The man authorities believe was responsible for the Dec. 14 arson and burglary at Mississippi Delta Community College is out on bond.
Timothy J. Jones posted bond set at $115,000 last Thursday afternoon, but his apprehension and subsequent release have not stopped state and local authorities from proceeding with the investigation and asking for more help to secure a conviction.
"If you do arson, we're going to catch you. That's the main thing we want people to know," said Mike Chaney Commissioner of Insurance and State Fire Marshall at a Tuesday press conference.
Chaney, Mississippi Delta Community College President Larry Nabors, Reed Abraham, vice-president of college advancement and public relations along with state and college law enforcement officials convened on the south steps of the capitol building on Tuesday morning to discuss the latest on the case.
The Enterprise-Tocsin reported last Thursday that Judge Stafford Shurden had set bond at Jones’ initial hearing, and he was released at about 2 p.m. on Thursday.
The press conference was a discussion and question and answer session about the arson and burglary case, which also has felony fleeing charges attached to it after Jones allegedly ran from officers on the morning of his arrest.
Flanked by officials from the Fire Marshall’s Office, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and Moorhead Campus Police, Chaney emphasized that it was a combined effort of those persons and others that led to the arrest of a suspect in the Moorhead case. “We want arsonists to know that all of the people behind us and other folks are working to catch you if you commit arson in the state,” he said.
Campus Police Chief Henry Manuel Sr. was queried about the accused arsonist’s relationship with the college and whether or not any prior threats or disputes were evident.
“Not to my knowledge,” he said.
Abraham reiterated that this was still an ongoing investigation and that they were limited on what they could disclose at this time.
“Any further information about any potential relationships or information that is directly related to this investigation, we’re not at liberty to discuss those at this time,” he said.
Abraham indicated that they didn’t want to say anything that would hinder the prosecution of the case.
“But if anyone has information, we’ll gladly accept it,” he said.
Abraham disclosed the tip-line information and further emphasized that a reward of up to $30,000 was available for information that leads to the prosecution.
When asked if the building was a total loss, Nabors said, “The insurance company has not determined yet, there was significant smoke damage throughout the entire building and fire and water damage in about half of it.”
Nabors’ other comments centered on expressions of gratitude for how the agencies worked together to identify the suspect and he specifically thanked the Sunflower County Sheriff’s Department, Sunflower County Emergency Management Director Ben Grant, all of the first responders for their immediate roll-out on the night of the fire, Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, the State Fire Marshall's office and MDCC campus police.
The accused was arrested Jan. 19 and has been charged with first degree arson, third degree arson, grand larceny and burglary filed by MDCC and felony fleeing filed by the MBI.
A major with the bureau declined to comment on the matter since it is an ongoing investigation.
