Georgia law enforcement officials this afternoon said volunteer firefighter Marvin Chase has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of arson tied to a series of fires in LaFayette, Ga., over the last five years.
Chase, who has been a volunteer with the LaFayette Fire Department since 2006, was arrested Tuesday and is being held in the Walker County Jail. He is scheduled to appear before a judge at 3 p.m. today, officials said.
The arrest came after a multi-agency investigation involving the LaFayette Police Department, the Georgia Fire Marshal’s office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On Tuesday, LaFayette Police Chief Tommy Freeman said that, after focusing their investigation, authorities were able to obtain a confession from Chase to several arsons. Chase was identified today as the person charged.
LaFayette Police Sgt. Stacey Meeks said Chase confessed to 20 of the past 30 arsons in Lafayette over the past five years.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.