Arson Arrest Made For Fire At Mississippi Delta Community College

A joint investigation between the Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office, Mississippi Delta Community College (MDCC) Police Department, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Sunflower County Sheriff’s Department, and the Sunflower County Emergency Management has resulted in the arrest of an individual for the Dec. 14, 2017 fire at Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, Miss.

According to a statement from the Mississippi Insurance Department, Timothy Jones, of Indianola, Miss., was arrested in January by the Mississippi Delta Community College Police Department and charged with one count of arson in the first degree and one count of arson in the third degree along with several other felony charges from assisting agencies.

The fire was intentionally set in the Administration Building of the college on the morning of Dec. 14, 2017, and a van belonging to the college was stolen and set on fire a few miles from the school. The blaze destroyed more than half of the building.

“This arson case was solved quickly thanks to the teamwork and cooperation of state and local agencies,” Commissioner of Insurance and State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney said.

MDCC President, Dr. Larry Nabors also praised the team effort.

“We at MDCC would like to thank the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the State Fire Marshal’s Office who have worked tirelessly in a collaborative effort with our campus police department. The Deputy State Fire Marshal was quick to arrive on the scene the morning of the fire, and the MBI’s assistance began shortly after. The college is greatly appreciative of both agencies’ solid direction and dedication to the investigation. A large part of the swift movement in this case is due to their thought, planning, and action,” said Dr. Nabors.