A 60-year-old man identified as Michael O' Berry is facing arson and vandalism charges for allegedly setting fire to a storage box used by the Smart Way furniture store on Kingston Pike, according to the Knoxville Fire Department. The incident, which occurred overnight Wednesday, resulted in $10,000 worth of damage to the furniture stored inside the container. WBIR reports that the Knoxville Police Department's patrol officers were able to identify O'Berry from a video at the scene and found him near the location.
The storage box, a Conex unit, had been utilized by the store to keep its new furniture items, and O'Berry's alleged actions led to considerable damage – he is now being detained at the Knox County Detention Facility, the Knoxville Fire Department relayed to various news sources, and the manhunt that ensued post the fiery incident lead the patrol officers to corner O'Berry in an area not far from where the fire had been set ablaze. WATE details that fire investigators from the Knoxville Fire Department have charged him with both arson and vandalism.
While many details surrounding the motive and the events leading up to the fire are still coming to light, authorities have stressed the seriousness of the situation given the extent of the damage and quick response of the local law enforcement. Timothy Woods of the KFD pointed out the gravity of the matter to WVLT News by detailing that the furniture inside the storage box was significantly damaged.
The investigation is ongoing, with officers and fire department officials working to determine the circumstances surrounding Michael O'Berry's alleged arson of the storage unit.
