Jonesboro man accused of burning down brother's apartment

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – A judge found probable cause Monday to charge a Jonesboro man with arson after police say he set fire to his brother's apartment building.

Shortly after 12:30 a.m. on May 4, police and firefighters responded to a fire in the 1800 block of Self Circle.

According to the affidavit, Battalion Chief Brett Winstead said he discovered two burnt holes in the exterior siding of the building. Division Chief Jason Wills later determined the fire was started intentionally, according to court documents.

On May 6, investigators from the Jonesboro Fire Marshal's Office returned to the apartment complex to review surveillance video.

According to the affidavit, the video showed a man carrying a plastic bag, “peering his head around the corner of the building, then walking forward and using some form of ignition source, setting the building on fire.”

Investigators then spoke with the apartment resident who identified the man in the video as his brother, 27-year-old Kevion Maurice Black.

“He stated that Mr. Black had lived with him at one time, but was banned from the property due to an incident that occurred while he was living there,” the affidavit states. “Members of the Fire Marshal's Office also identified Kevion Black from his driver's license photo as the person seen on camera.”

Wills said in the affidavit that in his “professional opinion, the evidence found indicated that the fires were set intentionally.”

A judge agreed and ordered Black arrested on suspicion of arson and set his bail at $25,000 cash/surety. Black is scheduled to appear in circuit court on July 26.

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