Arson Arrest Brings Relief to Residents of Peace Rose Place in Loganville

The man charged with arson on April 4 first reported an intruder had set fire to his Loganville home, telling police a complicated and detailed tale of how it all went down. But now, two months later, making a false report and cruelty to animals.

For two months following the fire, police and arson investigators have shared little information about the investigation. But now that he has been arrested, the police report has been released. The details show that when police and fire officials arrived at 4225 Peace Rose Place in Loganville on Jan. 31, where Smith was living with his girlfriend and her two children, they were told a bizarre tale.

According to the report, police had been informed that a suspect had set the house on fire before fleeing. They arrived to find Smith standing outside the house, which by that time was fully engulfed in flames. He was reported to be crying, with blood dripping from his hands. He told police that he had been home alone with his dog and three cats when he heard a sound in his garage. He went to see what it was and was confronted by a large black man and an older white female. The female was holding a five-gallon gas can, Smith told police. He reported he was then rushed by the man, a fight ensued, but Smith was allegedly able to get away. He said he managed to retrieve a shotgun from his bedroom and fired off a shot before the gun jammed.

Smith said the suspect then fled the scene in white SUV with Smith firing off shots from a handgun he had borrowed from a neighbor. That was when he realized his house was on fire, Smith said. He injured his hand breaking a window in an attempt to rescue the animals, police were told. The four pets perished in the fire.

According to the report, Smith was not able to tell police how or when the woman left the scene.

Witnesses did report hearing gunshots, and a handgun was retrieved from the scene, but not everybody in the neighborhood believed the story. Stephanie Palik, a neighbor whose grass caught alight during the fire, said only one or two of the neighbors ever believed it. She told 11Alive News that there is relief in the neighborhood now that Smith has been arrested and will not be returning.

Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services public information officer Lt. Colin Rhoden said that “making a false report of a crime” was included since Smith also had reported a burglary just two days before. 

“The arrest of this man will give the neighborhood closure to this incident and may bring peace back to the Peace Rose Place community,” Rhoden said, adding that there may be additional theft related charges leveraged against Smith for his role with the purported burglary and missing items.
 
Fire Investigators are asking anyone with information to please contact the Gwinnett Fire Arson and Explosives Investigation Section at 678-518-4890.

A charge does not constitute a conviction.