A career firefighter with the City of Indianola and the town of Belzoni has been arrested and charged with arson.
According to the state fire marshal’s office, Damion Tyler Martin has been charged with two counts of first-degree arson.
Bond has been set at $150,000 for each count, the fire marshal’s office said.
This past Monday night, Indianola Mayor Ken Featherstone confirmed to The Enterprise-Tocsin after an executive session that Martin had been placed on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of the case.
Sunflower County Emergency Management Director and County Fire Coordinator Mitch Ramage acknowledged the arrest this week.
"We are aware of the arrest and charges that have been filed against a firefighter who serves in both Sunflower and Humphreys counties,” Ramage said in a statement. “We respect the judicial process and will await further action by the prosecutors and the courts. An arrest does not equal guilt, but even the implication of firefighter arson is a violation of the faith and trust our communities have in the work we do. It is also a sobering thought for one of our own to endanger the lives of other firefighters."
