Arrest made in Stonefort residential arson case
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
STONEFORT, Ill., (KBSI) – A joint investigation by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Fire Marshal has led to the arrest of a suspect in connection with a residential arson that occurred Oct. 8 in Stonefort.
At approximately 1:59 p.m., surveillance footage showed Jeffrey A. Glover arriving on a bicycle at a home located at 303 Poplar St. After briefly walking around the property, Glover left and returned six minutes later with a backpack. At 2:14 p.m., he was seen disabling one of the surveillance cameras by cutting its power. He was not seen again on the footage.
Around 2:45 p.m., the homeowner returned to find the house filled with smoke and a section of it on fire. The fire was quickly extinguished by the homeowner’s caregiver before it could spread further.
Due to the suspicious circumstances, the Illinois State Fire Marshal requested assistance from Williamson County detectives. A tip from the public later led Saline County deputies to locate Glover near the Village of Muddy. He attempted to flee on a bicycle but was taken into custody without incident.
“This investigation highlights the value of strong partnerships between law enforcement agencies and the community we serve,” said Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich. “The quick response from Saline County deputies and the cooperative efforts of the Fire Marshal’s Office and our detectives ensured that a dangerous suspect was brought to justice.”
The case has been forwarded to the Williamson County State’s Attorney’s Office, and charges are pending. Glover remains in custody at the Saline County Detention Center on an unrelated Illinois Department of Corrections hold.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office at 618-997-6541 or submit a tip using the Williamson County Sheriff’s App, available on the App Store and Google Play. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
