A Mountain Home man has been arrested for allegedly starting a fire at a local business, his second arson-related arrest in two years.
Shane Eugene Carson, 48, is being held in the Baxter County Detention Center on a felony arson charge, along with a habitual offender penalty enhancement. His bond has been set at $50,000, and he is also being held for a probation violation.
According to court documents from the Mountain Home Police Department, officers responded to a report of arson at Dale Green Motors. Upon arrival, police reviewed surveillance footage showing a man fleeing the scene after a large fireball ignited near the building. The fire caused scorch marks and warped the plastic siding on the structure.
Investigators noted the man in the video was dressed similarly to Carson, whom officers had interacted with earlier that day. Carson was subsequently located, but he declined to answer police questions. During a search, officers reportedly found a lighter in his pocket.
Carson’s criminal history includes a prior arrest in October 2024, when he set fire to the exterior of a Wendy’s restaurant in Mountain Home. In that case, surveillance footage captured Carson placing an object under the gas meter, igniting it, and fleeing. An employee spotted the flames and was able to extinguish them. Additional footage showed Carson making a previous attempt to light a piece of wood under the gas meter earlier the same day. Police identified him based on earlier encounters.
Carson now faces the potential for increased penalties due to his habitual offender status. His case is ongoing, and no additional details have been released.
Arson remains a serious crime in Arkansas, with penalties ranging from significant fines to lengthy prison sentences, particularly for repeat offenders.