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Match check of gas siphoning bad news for two suspects
Web posted March 21, 2008
TISHOMINGO A "something stupid" act created serious legal problems for two Johnston County men attempting to steal gasoline from a Milburn school vehicle.
Sheriff Tom Winkler said everything took a wrong turn when one of the two suspects struck a match to check on how the siphoning process was progressing. The fire ignited gas fumes which quickly spread to a van and school bus parked in the bus barn. An empty parking space within the barn kept flames from spreading to four other vehicles, according to school Superintendent Jon Holmes.
Winkler said Anthony Bonnell, 22, Milburn, and Corey Briggs, 18, Tishomingo, surrendered in the bus vehicle case to avoid being implicated in the investigation of recent area fires where arson is suspected.
Winkler said Bonnell and Briggs turned themselves in following news stories the school vehicle fires might be related to recent fires which destroyed three homes, a storage building and several bales of hay burned in an open pasture.
Court Clerk Casandra Slover said both suspects are charged with third-degree arson and have been released on personal recognizance bonds pending a preliminary hearing scheduled at 10 a.m. on May. 20.
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