A Douglas man has been arrested and charged in connection with a fire that occurred on July 4, 2023, on North Peterson Avenue in Douglas.
Wednesday afternoon, officers arrested Randy Neal DeLoach, 41, and charged him with four counts of first-degree arson. DeLoach operated The Liquidation Market store, which was located on North Peterson across the road from Lott Builders Supply. Just before midnight on July 4, the store caught fire, completely destroying the building and damaging other properties located nearby. As firefighters fought the blaze, True Life Ministries, which was in the same building, suffered damage as well.
Almost immediately, officials deemed the fire suspicious. A vehicle was seen at the property a short time before the fire began. The state fire marshal’s office opened an investigation and an investigator from the fire marshal was on the scene the following day.
The fire marshal’s office conducted the investigation, which led to DeLoach’s arrest Monday afternoon. The fire marshal has not issued a statement regarding the incident. However, a press release should be forthcoming.
DeLoach is currently being held in the Coffee County Jail.