Police arrest Moberly man accused of starting fires
MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A man accused of starting fires around Moberly this week is facing several charges.
Scott Bishop, 43, of Moberly, was charged Wednesday with nine counts of knowingly burning or exploding. He is being held without bond at the Randolph County Jail.
According to the Moberly Police Department, crews responded Monday around 9:50 p.m. to reports of fires in the downtown area. Police said more calls were made about fires in a neighborhood west of downtown Moberly.
During the fires, the Moberly Fire Department requested help from the Easter Randolph County Fire Protection District.
Crews responded to the following areas:
- 700 block of W. Coates Street
- 1000 block of W. Reed Street
- Rothwell Park
Police said the fires included dumpsters, trash cans, wood pallets, and brush. Officers believe the fires were intentionally started.
According to MPD, officers patrolling Rothwell Park found Bishop in the area. Police said Bishop ran from them into a nearby home.
Detectives said surveillance footage collected Tuesday from the downtown area helped identify Bishop as the person who set the fires. Officers requested that the Randolph County Prosecutor's Office charge Bishop with nine felony counts of knowingly burning or exploding.
According to the police department, a judge issued a warrant for Bishop's arrest. Police arrested Bishop at home in the 600 block of Porter Street on Tuesday around 9:25 p.m.
