Police arrest man suspected of lighting ex-wife's house on fire in Walker County
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Authorities arrested a Walker County man suspected of lighting his ex-wife's house on fire.
Michael Parker was arrested and charged with arson only 20 minutes after his ex-wife's house on Corinth Road caught on fire, said Walker County Assistant Fire Chief Waymond Westbrook.
Gloria Brown called 911 around 1:10 a.m. on Wednesday to report that the back of her log cabin house was in flames, Westbrook said.
Firefighters put out the flames before the entire house caught fire and determined it had been started intentionally, he said.
Walker County Sheriff's deputies arrested Parker about a mile from the site less than 20 minutes later, Westbrook said.
The fire is not related to the arson at the Garretts Chapel Baptist Church that happened on Sunday night, officials said.
The church fire is still under investigation and authorities are looking for tips. Contact Walker County Emergency Services Fire Marshal's Office at 706-539-1255 or the Georgia Arson Control Hotline at 1-800-282-5804.