The Nashville Fire Department is asking for the public's help to identify a man who, officials say, set a small fire inside the Walmart Supercenter on Dickerson Pike on June 26. Customers and store employees moved the burning trash receptacle away from merchandise and used a fire extinguisher to knock the flames down, and no injuries were reported.
Surveillance Shows Suspect Buy Lighter Fluid, Ignite Trash
Investigators reviewed store surveillance and say the man walked in just before 10 a.m., selected a bottle of lighter fluid, then gathered clothing and other items, according to WSMV. They report he placed the material in a trash receptacle in an aisle and ignited it before leaving the store without buying anything.
The department says the suspect is believed to be a man between 21 and 35 years old with short dreadlocks, wearing an orange shirt, khaki pants, and white shoes.
Shoppers And Staff Stepped In As Investigators Call For Tips
Nashville officials say customers first noticed smoke and moved the trash receptacle away from nearby merchandise, while Walmart employees used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. Anyone who recognizes the individual shown in the attached surveillance video or has information related to this investigation is asked to contact the Nashville Fire Department Fire Investigations Unit at 615-207-4212,
NFD said in a Facebook post, as reported by WSMV.
Tips may also be provided anonymously through the Tennessee Advisory Committee on Arson hotline at 1-800-762-3017.
Dickerson Pike Fires Put Spotlight On Busy Walmart Corridor
Releasing stills from surveillance is a common step when investigators need public help identifying a person of interest, and Dickerson Pike has seen several suspicious blazes in recent years. Hoodline previously covered a furniture-store blaze on the same corridor that drew a multiagency probe.
The Walmart involved is listed at 3458 Dickerson Pike on Walmart, and investigators say they are hoping the newly released footage will produce leads.
