January 26, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2001-07) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (334) 208-5806/Fax: (334) 208-5813 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org MOBILE FIRE INVESTIGATORS MAKE ARSON ARREST Mobile Firefighters were called to an apartment fire at 1763 Old Canal Street (Apartment B) on Thursday night, January 25, 2001. The call was received at approximately 10:35 p.m. with firefighters arriving at approximately 10:39 p.m. reporting fire coming from apartment B. The fire appears to have originated in the bedroom of the apartment causing an estimated $8 thousand in damage. Mobile Fire Investigators with assistance from Mobile Police Department arrested Ivan L. Higginbotham and charged him with Arson 1st degree. When Fire Investigators arrived a witness, Christopher Shane Williams, a transient from Texas and was Higginbotham's traveling companion, came to them and told them he knew who set the fire in the apartment. According to the Willaims, Higginbotham had been staying at the apartment previous with the occupant Dorothy Walker but had been placed in Mobile County Metro Jail recently. When Higginbotham was released on Saturday he attempted to go back to the apartment but found the locks had been changed. Williams told Investigators that he and Higginbotham were to go to the apartment, get some things and catch a train out of Mobile. He further told Fire Investigators that Higginbotham broke out a window by the front doors and went inside and later came back out with a bedroll. Higginbotham went into the woods where Williams was waiting and told him they needed to leave cause he had set a fire in the bedroom of the apartment. Higginbotham and Williams were taken to Mobile Police Headquarters where they were questioned by Fire Investigators about the fire. Higginbotham was then charged with Arson 1st Degree and taken to Mobile County Metro Jail. Williams was not charged in the fire. The fire remains under investigation by Mobile Fire-Rescue Department. No injuries were reported. Engines 8, 9, 23, truck 17, rescue 23 and District 1 Chief John Hicks responded. ###