(SPRINGVILLE) – Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department detectives arrested a Springville man in connection to the arson fires set in March.
Firefighters from several fire departments in Lawrence, Greene, Crane and Monroe counties joined forces to battle three structure fires and two wildfires all within a very short distance of one another.
Police arrested 28-year-old Sean M. Meadows of Springville on one Level 3 felony count of arson, three Level 4 felony counts of arson, a Level 4 felony count of burglary, four Class A misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass and a Class B misdemeanor count of criminal mischief, a Class A misdemeanor count of resisting arrest.
Meadows is being held without bond because he was out on bond on a Level 6 felony charge of auto theft.
On March 19, Lawrence County Central Dispatch received multiple calls regarding three structure fires and two wildfires in the areas of Patton Hill and Avoca-Eureka Roads and Greer Lane.
Deputies from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and six area volunteer fire departments and IU Health Ambulance service and Tabernacle of Praise Emergency services responded.
Detectives and the state fire marshal responded to investigate after firefighters found the fires were intentionally set.
Times of fires and their locations:
- 2:27 p.m. at 85 Greer Lane, an occupied home. Two family dogs perished.
- 2:37 p.m. at 142 Patton Hill Road, unoccupied mobile home and burglary.
- 2:48 p.m. at 424 Patton Hill Road, detached garage
- 3:08 p.m. behind 1514 Avoca Eureka Road, a wildfire, at the back of Purdue Farm
- 3:28 p.m. at 60 Patton Hill Road attempted church fire and wildfire
The residents of 85 Greer Lane returned to the scene of the fire and told responders that they were concerned that a family member, Meadows, may still be inside the residence.
A short time later, one of Meadow’s family members was able to contact him and told law enforcement who were at the scene that Sean was at the Dollar General Store in Oolitic.
The route of travel from the 85 Greer Lane fire to the Dollar General Store would have taken Meadows directly past the location of four of the five fires, with the fifth being only about 1,500 feet off of the route, where a bicycle matching the description of Meadows’ bike was found.
Police say Meadows became a person of interest and deputies responded to the Dollar General Store where they found Meadows. He was transported to the sheriff’s office and interviewed by detectives and a search warrant to take possession of his clothing was executed.
Over the next ten days, detectives and deputies worked with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office to bring the case to a conclusion.
Witness statements, physical evidence, and electronic evidence led investigators to believe that they had probable cause to arrest Meadows.
On Friday, at approximately 4:43 p.m. detectives went looking for Meadows. At 5:52 p.m. police received a report that Meadows was in the area of Salt Creek Brewery on Old State Road 37 North and multiple deputies went to the area.
Deputies located Meadows behind Salt Creek Brewery. Deputies attempted to arrest Meadows who resisted. He was taken into custody, and an additional charge of resisting law enforcement was added to the long list of charges he is facing.
Police say the investigation remains active and is expected to continue for several days.
Anyone with information about this case should contact Detective Captain Jim Slone at the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department at 812-275-3316.
