Teen Accused In Many Recent Norman Fires Arrested

Gan Matthews, News 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- The arrest of a teenage boy may be the break authorities have been waiting for in a series of fires in Norman.

In the past week there have been six vehicle fires and one structure fire in an area near Norman North High School.

"They all appear to be suspicious," said Norman Assistant Fire Chief Jim Bailey. "The Fire Marshal's office is looking into all of those to see what the common thread is."

Several of those fires have occurred at the Lexington Crossing Mobile Home Park. The most recent one took place Monday morning, when Andrew Emerson's car was badly burned on the interior.

"I saw my driver's side door was open, and I saw a large amount of fire coming out the driver's side," Emerson said.

At about the same time, another resident said she saw a teenage boy clad in a black hooded sweatshirt, jeans and red boxers trying to get into her car. She said she yelled at the boy, and he ran off.

Later, even though the teen had changed clothes, she said she was able to identify him to the fire marshal because he was still wearing the red boxers.

She said the boy was handcuffed and arrested.

The Norman Fire Marshal said a 15-year-old boy was arrested for arson in connection with the car fires in north Norman. Fire investigators are also looking into some fires on the east side of Norman to see if there's any connection.