Abbey at Wisteria Crest Arson Arrest - Hoover Police Department

							                        CITY OF HOOVER, ALABAMA
                             100 Municipal Lane
                           Hoover, Alabama 35216
                  Nicholas C. Derzis                 Charles Wingate
                    Police Chief                       Fire Chief

For Immediate Release                                       Abbey at Wisteria Crest
June 15, 2011                                               Arson Arrest

Contact:                                                    Contact:
Captain Jim Coker                                           Rusty Lowe, EMS Officer
Hoover Police Department                                    Hoover Fire Department
(205) 739-7162 Office                                       (205) 739-7039 Office
cokerj@ci.hoover.al.us                                      lower@ci.hoover.al.us


         On Friday June 10, 2011 at 0548 hours a fire was reported at the clubhouse of the
Abbey at Wisteria Crest Apartments. The Hoover Fire Department responded and
extinguished the fire, however, the clubhouse suffered extensive damage.
         Hoover Police and Fire arson investigators jointly investigated the fire, and the
Hoover Fire Marshal determined it to be arson. The fire originated on the outside rear of
the building. Information obtained early in the investigation revealed a suspect, and he
was taken into custody for questioning later Friday morning. After questioning, the
suspect was released pending further investigation by detectives.
         On Tuesday June 14, evidence was presented to the Jefferson County District
Attorney’s office and an arrest warrant was issued for the suspect, Stephen Craig Watson.
Watson, a resident of the Abbey at Wisteria Crest Apartments, is charged with Arson 2nd
degree. Watson was arrested at his apartment on Tuesday and transported to the Jefferson
County Jail, where he remains on a $30,000.00 bond.
It is believed that Watson set the fire due to an ongoing dispute with apartment
management.




Stephen Craig Watson
52 years old
Hoover, AL