Waurika News Democrat

Local News

September 21, 2008

Sunday update: Arrest made in church fire

State fire marshall to be in Waurika Monday

Jeff Kaley

A 19-year-old Texas man was arrested Saturday night in the Wichita Falls area and incarcerated at Wichita County Jail, in connection with a suspicious fire at the First United Methodist Church in Waurika.

Waurika Police Chief Earnest Tolle said agents of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation made the arrest after 10 p.m. Saturday, less than 18 hours after a fire damaged the interior of the church on the corner of East D and Pine streets in Waurika.

“I was thrilled to hear the OSBI went to Texas and was able to make an arrest so quickly. It all went pretty good,” said Tolle, who had begun an investigation of the fire shortly after it was reported Saturday. “The Oklahoma State Fire Marshall investigator is supposed to be in Waurika Monday.

“The fire looked suspicious from the start.”

The name of the suspect was not known today. He was to go before a judge for an extradition hearing Monday, which could lead to being returned to Oklahoma to face charges in Waurika.

Waurika firefighters answered a fire alarm at First United Methodist Church about 5 a.m. Saturday. They found the south end of the structure ablaze and considerable smoke throughout the building.

The fire was brought under control in less than an hour, with an initial examination revealing that a storage room, the choir room and part of the sanctuary had received heavy fire damage. Other parts of the building suffered smoke damage.

Shortly after the fire was brought under control, Tolle discovered evidence that led him to suspect the fire was intentionally started.

The State Fire Marshall’s office was contacted at that time and later the OSBI.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department provided traffic control during and after the fire.

Text Only
Local News
  • Council hears possible TTHM solution

    To deal with the ongoing Trihalomethane issue plaguing the City of Waurika, Steve Woodward, of Utility Service, offered the Waurika City Commission a different course of action — Much different than the multi-million dollar projects offered by other service providers.

    February 2, 2012

  • Looking Back While Moving Forward

    January 26, 2012

  • Abatement process raises questions

    A public nuisance meeting for a property in the 400 block of east Park prompted a lengthy discourse between city officials and the property owner, Henry Baker.

    January 18, 2012

  • Cleaning up Ready to get fit? Bohot can help

    Lose weight.
    For most red-blooded Americans, those two words become an objective about this time of year.

    January 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • 2012 brings changes to education

    “I’m definitely not a doom and gloom kind of guy. I think we are on the way up,” Terry added. “The overall outlook is good.”

    January 9, 2012

  • First Bank and Trust makes some changes

    First Bank & Trust Co. announced the retirement of James Montgomery after 40 years of banking and the promotion of Joanna Dyer as the Banking Center Manager of the Waurika office. Jared Wilson will take on the role as the primary loan officer.

    January 9, 2012

  • 'They made out like bandits'

    The Waurika Volunteer Fire Department passed out its mountain of toys late last week, before Christmas.

    December 29, 2011

  • 2012 important year for Waurika

    Chuck Brown wasted little time when asked about the City of Waurika’s biggest challenge going into 2012.

    December 29, 2011

  • Saint Nick brings boost to the economy

    Christmas is many things to many people.
    For retailers nationwide it is a boom to their bottom line. Just last December, U.S. retail stores hauled in $27.2 billion in sales.

    December 22, 2011

  • Operation Christmas nets huge haul

    Most of the time they wear their fire gear. This time of the year, however, the Waurika volunteer firefighters might as well wear red suits and fake beards.

    December 22, 2011