Man arrested in arson cases

Published 10:42 pm Wednesday, October 23, 2013

A Suffolk man has been charged in multiple suspicious fires that have taken place near his house in the 100 block of Brittany Lane.

Smith

Smith

Michael Odom Smith, 29, allegedly has set several fires in the last six weeks, city spokeswoman Diana Klink stated in a press release.

The arrest came after the latest small brush fire was put out by his father prior to the arrival of firefighters.

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Smith is charged with reckless handling of a firearm; carrying a concealed weapon while intoxicated; resisting lawful arrest; possession of equipment with which a fire bomb can be made with intent to manufacture fire bombs or explosives; two counts of maliciously throwing a missile at an occupied dwelling; maliciously setting fire to wood, fence or grass; arson of an occupied dwelling; and arson of personal property under $200 in value.

Smith was intoxicated and carrying a concealed firearm at the time of his arrest, Klink wrote in the press release.

None of the fires caused any injuries. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming, Klink said.

Smith has been found guilty of carrying a weapon while intoxicated before. Portsmouth General District Court sentenced him to two and a half months in jail after he was pulled over in that city on May 17, 2012, because he was stopped at a green light.

He failed to properly perform several field sobriety tests, and the arresting officer recovered a loaded AR-15 assault rifle from the front passenger seat.

Smith is being held at Western Tidewater Regional Jail.