The investigation of the fire that destroyed College Station’s Krispy Kreme building included finding gas cans and evidence of an accelerant at 13 locations.
That’s part of the arrest report that led to the apprehension of a co-owner of the business.
As of Friday morning (August 2), 54 year old Brian Keith Davis of Katy remains held in the Harris County jail.
The arrest report also says Davis was the last one to leave the building, and traffic camera video identified his S-U-V shortly before the building exploded.
Investigators learned that the business owners within the past month requested a deferral of a loan payment to the Small Business Administration. The SBA loan was more than $1 million dollars.
In addition to the loan deferral request, investigators were told about unpaid property taxes as of January 31, 2024 in the amount of approximately $9,717 dollars.
In an interview with WTAW News, College Station fire chief Richard Mann also said they “basically knew at the time of the scene of the (May 13th) incident that this was not accidental.”
Mann also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) for their assistance. Mann said “25 agents from all over the country came to assist us with processing the scene and the evidence. That really put us leaps and bounds ahead and building the case and getting where we are at now.”
Click below to hear comments from Richard Mann, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.
Original story, August 1, 2024:
A co-owner of College Station’s Krispy Kreme doughnut shop has been arrested for setting fire to the business May 13th.
A news release from the College Station fire department (CSFD) says the arrest of 54 year old Brian Keith Davis of Katy followed a joint investigation with the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives.
Davis was arrested Thursday in Harris County.
The news release did not say how the fire was set or the reason for the fire.
No one was injured and no one was inside the building.
The CSFD news release identifies Davis as the owner, while the arrest report from the CSFD fire marshal’s office identifies Davis as a co-owner.
News release from the College Station fire department:
College Station, Texas. – The College Station Fire Department’s (CSFD) Fire Marshal’s Office announced that Brian Keith Davis, 54, of Katy, was arrested today in connection with the May 13th fire that destroyed College Station’s Krispy Kreme doughnut shop.
Davis, who owns the College Station Krispy Kreme location, was arrested for Arson after an eleven week investigation conducted by the College Station Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The State Fire Marshal’s Accelerant Detection Canine Unit and College Station Police assisted in the investigation. Harris County Constable Precinct 5 assisted the CSFD Fire Marshals to apprehend and book the suspect in Harris County this afternoon. At this time, this case is not being investigated as a racially motivated incident.
“I am proud of the work done by the CSFD Fire Marshals Office and appreciative of the support and collaboration we received from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives,” said Fire Chief Richard Mann. “The agency’s cooperation and teamwork have been instrumental in getting a criminal off the streets who completely disregarded the risk posed to the community and the firefighters from an intentional act of arson,” Mann said.
“The strong partnerships we have between our federal and local partners are force multipliers and allow us to leverage the full capabilities of law enforcement when solving arson investigations. Arsons present grave risk to both life and property and we are committed to using every resource at our disposal to see to it that those who are responsible for such acts are held accountable,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel.