Video

WITH THE STRIKE OF A MATCH. A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER IS ARRESTED ON CHARGES HE SET A SERIES OF FIRES. FIRES THAT HE AND HIS CREW WERE THEN SENT TO PUT OUT. IT HAPPENED JUST OUTSIDE GALLUP. SHELTON DODSON IS JUST BACK FROM THERE WITH OUR TOP STORY... SHELTON: AND THIS CASE GETS EVEN MORE BIZARRE. THE LATEST ARSON HAPPENED AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL EARLIER THIS WEEK. AND TODAY WE SHOCKED SOME OF THE STAFF THERE WHEN WE TOLD THEM THE ACCUSED FIRE STARTER IS A FORMER STUDENT: INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THIS FIRE IS THE HANDIWORK OF 19-YEAR-OLD JASON DARNELL. HE'S ALSO ACCUSED OF TORCHING A TRAILER HOME WHICH USED TO SIT ON THIS LOT LESS THAN A HUNDRED YARDS FROM THE WHITE CLIFF'S VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT'S THE VERY SAME DEPARTMENT WHERE DARNELL WAS STATIONED. : 'He should be prosecuted. If he got caught for it, if they have the evidence, pursue him.' TYRONE BROWN LIVES RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE THE TRAILER WAS AND BELIEVES HE SAW DARNELL ON SCENE FIGHTING THAT FIRE WHEN IT HAPPENED. THEN, EARLY TUESDAY -- ANOTHER ARSON -- THIS ONE AT REHOBOTH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL WHICH DARNELL IS ALSO CHARGED WITH SETTING. IT'S THE SAME SCHOOL HE ATTENDED BETWEEN 6TH AND 8TH GRADES. : 'I don't take it as something that is personally directed toward our school. I since that there is something else going on, broader, maybe a fascination with fire or something.' WHILE DARNELL HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SETTING JUST THREE FIRES DETECTIVES BELIEVE HE MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A FEW MORE IN THE GALLUP AREA. THAT -- HIS FORMER SUPERINTENDENT BELIEVES -- IS A SURE SIGN OF A TROUBLED MIND AND TODAY OFFERED DARNELL THIS MESSAGE. : 'Jason, you're a good fellow but you got to get some help on this deal. I don't know for sure what is going on here but lets try to help you and if we can help you in some type of way we are happy to do so.' INVESTIGATORS SAY DARNELL FIRST TRIED TO RECRUIT SOME KIDS TO TORCH THE VACANT HOMES. BUT WHEN THEY REFUSED TO GO ALONG WITH HIS PLANS... DEPUTIES SAY DARNELL LIT THE FIRES HIMSELF. THOSE SAME KIDS TURNED HIM IN. LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM..., SHELTON DODSON, EYEWITNESS NEWS