An Austin businessman whose name has been surfacing in news for arson charges has been arrested and now faces multiple fire-setting allegations. Dorsey Bryan Hardeman, age 75, is the focus of a series of intentional blazes spanning December to February. The Austin Fire Department announced Wednesday that Hardeman has been slapped with multiple counts of first-degree arson, as per KXAN.
Fire Investigators Make Arrest in Arson Fires - https://t.co/sRHFM1gUb9 pic.twitter.com/ggRIEcNhwL
— Austin Fire Dept (@austinfiredept) April 25, 2024
The first incident dates back to Christmas Day 2023, on Pampa Drive, where Hardeman was "attempting to purchase" the property. His connection to the fire emerged after an insurance company discovered surveillance footage of him igniting the blaze. The Continental Automotive Group founder also seemingly set two fires in February at S. Congress Ave properties, reportedly to facilitate the sale of the land by clearing two mobile homes from the site, the fire department suggests.
Moreover, the Austin Fire Department asserted that yet another fire was deliberately set at 400 Nueces St. on February 25, as detailed by KXAN. The suspect was identified on security video at the scene and was later connected to that fire as well. After his arrest on April 24, Hardeman is now incarcerated at the Travis County Jail. He had previously faced arrest for the fire at 400 Nueces St. on February 29, officials disclosed.
As for the other fires, KVUE reports that Hardeman is also charged with two counts of first-degree felony arson regarding blazes at South Congress fires and one count of second-degree felony arson in connection with the Pampa Drive fire. He also faces charges for burglary of a building about the 400 Nueces St incident.
Austin police confirm Hardeman's current charges also include allegations stemming from a fire set at the former Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop location. Notably, Hardeman, who heads several automotive dealerships through Continental Automotive Group, owned the neighboring property and had shown interest in acquiring the bike shop's plot, although no purchase materialized.
