A recent fire at the Kane & Crowell Law Office in Lebanon has been ruled as arson, with a 43-year-old Lebanon man, Jerry Travis Tramel, facing charges related to the incident. WSMV reports that the Lebanon Police Department (LPD) initiated an investigation after the early morning blaze on Tuesday was deemed suspicious due to its nature and the subsequent discovery of accelerants on the scene.
The law office, located on S. College Street, was unoccupied at the time of the fire which was quickly extinguished by responding fire crews, the LPD and Lebanon Fire Department (LFD) worked collaboratively uncovering evidence that led them to believe the fire was set intentionally, “There were some items on the roof — a couple bags,” and when the fire was extinguished, fire marshals got access to the bags and found some forms of accelerants, aggressive investigative measures, including the review of surveillance footage and interviews with witnesses, resulted in the identification of a suspect vehicle and its owner through License Plate Reader technology, according to WKRN.
Following the investigation, Jerry Travis Tramel was charged with one count of arson and vandalism, this information was shared by Police Chief Mike Justice who expressed his gratitude toward the officers and detectives for their professional and swift response during the case, stating, "It’s reassuring to know that as a department, we have the resources and technology at our disposal to assist us in quickly solving cases and locating suspects," as detailed in a statement obtained by FOX17.
The cooperation between LFD and LPD proved crucial, as the fire could have quickly escalated into something far more detrimental, "The situation could have turned really bad really quick," LPD's public information officer, Zach Patton, told WKRN, however thanks to the quick response the potential crisis was averted, and a testimony to the efficiency of the city's emergency services was provided.
No additional information regarding the motives behind the arson or the specifics of the vandalism charges has been revealed. The Lebanon community, as described by Patton in a WKRN interview, is considered unaccustomed to such incidents, characterizing the event as unusual for the normally peaceful area.
