PICKENS COUNTY, S.C.—South Carolina Forestry Commission law enforcement officials have arrested three individuals on charges related to the origin of the now-13,000+ acre Table Rock Fire near Pickens, S.C.
This Tuesday morning officers arrested Nyzaire Jah-Neiz Marsh,19, of Taylors, Tristan Tyler, 18, of Greenville and Isaac Wilson, 18, of Greenville, charging them with one count each of negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another.
While involved in the search for a missing hiker in Table Rock State Park March 21, Pickens County sheriff’s deputies, state park personnel and other first responders discovered a rapidly growing wildfire. As part of their response, the search group located and evacuated seven hikers, several of whom were questioned about the origins of the fire.
During preliminary interviews, four subjects, three adults and one minor, were relocated to the C. David Stone Law Enforcement Center in Pickens for follow-up questioning. SCFC investigators along with Pickens County Sheriff’s Office detectives obtained evidence that they allege identified these subjects as suspects in the origin of the Table Rock State Park fire.
According to the arrest warrant affadavits, the suspects took part in smoking activities on a hiking trail at the state park and did not extinguish their cigarettes in a proper and safe manner, which officials allege led to the ignition of the Table Rock Fire.
The juvenile subject was charged with one count of the same offense; he was not booked, but was released into the custody of his parents. The three adult suspects were booked into the Pickens County Detention Center and released on personal recognizance bonds of $7,500 each.
REFERENCES: SC CODE OF LAWS SECTION 16-11-180. Negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another.
Upon conviction of this offense, suspect must be imprisoned for not less than five days nor more than thirty days or be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than two hundred dollars.
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