Hall Co. teen charged in neighborhood fires, break-ins

GAINESVILLE - A Hall County teenager was arrested Tuesday after a rash of burglaries and arson in a South Hall community.

 

Sheriff's Deputy Nicole Bailes said the 16-year-old was identified through surveillance footage. The teen is accused of setting fire to several mailboxes and outside structures, as well as burglarizing homes and cars.

 

"Over the last three weeks, the Sheriff's Office has been experiencing a large call volume to the area of Tanner's Mill and Weaver's Road," said Bailes. "We've received multiple reports of entering autos, criminal trespassing and residential burglary, and also... outside structures, like out buildings and storage buildings that were set afire and had substantial damage."

 

The teenager was charged with one count each of arson in the first and second degree. He was also charged with one count of criminal trespass and four counts of entering auto.

 

Bailes said more charges are expected in the case. He has a court date on Thursday.

 

"We're still trying to sort through all of our reports and through the interviews we gathered with this juvenile, but the current charges... we have two buildings that were set on fire, one of the structures was close enough to a residence it caused damage to the actual home and a vehicle," said Bailes.

 

Hall County Fire Marshal Scott Cagle said in an email, "This male subject confessed to setting several items on fire that consisted of mailboxes and small storage/out buildings. The investigation is on-going and no other information would be able to be released at this time."

 

The teenager, who will not be identified due to his age, was a resident of the community where the incidents occurred.

 

Bailes said residents in the area with information about the incidents are encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office at 770-531-6879, or Fire Services at 770-531-6838.