Stafford, Va. –– One man was placed behind bars this weekend, charged with arson after he called the sheriff’s department, apparently on himself, officials say.
Stafford sheriff’s deputies were called to the county’s school administration complex on Stafford Avenue in Stafford on Sunday after someone reported seeing three cars that had been vandalized.
Deputies arrived to find three cars had been spray painted with graffiti and vulgar words, said Stafford sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy.
The deputy went to the home of the person who called police on Stafford Avenue –– near the schools complex –– spoke with him, and determined that he was drunk, said Kennedy.
Through their investigation, deputies determined the man who called them to the schools offices was the one who spray painted the vehicles.
William Dodd, 18, was charged with trespassing, felony vandalism, and with underage possession of alcohol, said Kennedy. He was taken to the Rappahannock Regional Jail in Stafford and was later released on bail.
Later that afternoon, a resident on Stafford Avenue who lives near Dodd’s home called authorities to report the siding on her house and garage had been burnt.
Deputies went to the home and sure enough saw the home had been burnt. They went back to Dodd’s home, questioned him, and this time places arson charges on him, said Kennedy.
He was taken back to jail. He is scheduled to appear for a bond hearing in a Stafford courtroom on Wednesday.
According to court records, Dodd appeared in court in November on charges of swearing and public intoxication.
