Letter To The Editor – Mar. 31, 2011

Chief Thanks Agencies Investigating Arson

    I would like to take the opportunity to thank all agencies and the concerned citizens involved in assisting in the capture of the individuals involved in and solving the arson case of the Antique Mall in Oakland on March 1.

    On March 15, I received a call via cell phone that gave detailed information that Larry Loftis, 62, of Oxford, and an accomplice had purposely set the fire destroying over $2 million dollars worth of inventory and gutted the building owned by Kurt Lindley of Charleston.

    The mall housed property belonging to over 50 vendors Larry Loftis was indeed one of the vendors that had 14 booths rented from Kurt and Larry Lindley.

    I received a phone call from a concerned citizen at 8:35 a.m. on March 15. He stated that he had information that would lead to the capture of the arsonist. After I gathered the information and contacted the ATF agent in charge of the investigation, relaying the information to him. The AFT apprehended the suspect in Batesville at Cellular South and the suspect had a 45 caliber handgun in his possession, just as the informant relayed to me.

    The suspect was taken to the Yalobusha County Sheriff Office for questioning where he confessed and also gave the name of his accomplice, James Flemons, 47, also of Oxford.

    Yalobusha County Sheriff Lance Humphrey took jurisdiction and charged Larry Loftis and James Flemons with second degree arson, burglary of a commercial building and conspiracy to commit burglary.

    Thank you from Chief Russell Smith to Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Agents, State Fire Marshal’s Office, Yalobusha County County Coordinator Frankie Hyde, Yalobusha County Sheriffs Department and Oakland Police Department.

     I encourage all agencies to work closely together and all citizens get involved in the community. This makes for safer communities and less crime in our communities.

Russell Smith
Oakland Police Chief