Posted on 05/14/2019 3:32:16 PM PDT by Gamecock
COLUMBIA, SC
A man who police believe is responsible for setting fires at two houses owned by Gov. Henry McMaster Tuesday morning attempted to set a third one, according to Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook.
The third fire, however, did not take, Holbrook said. It was unclear if the third house was owned by McMaster.
Police detained the man, who has not been identified, in connection with the fires near the University of South Carolina campus Tuesday morning. All three homes were on or near Greene Street between Five Points and the campus.
Columbia police and SLED investigators were still interviewing the man Tuesday afternoon. Charges are still being determined, Holbrook said.
Holbrook and Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins spoke Tuesday afternoon in front of the two houses that the fire made uninhabitable. Authorities received video that they say indicates the man started the fire.
“Some of those videos contain some evidence about how we think the fires were set,” Holbrook.
Police have released little information about the suspect. It’s believed he lived nearby, Holbrook said. Investigators didn’t know Tuesday afternoon if the suspect knew the people in the house, nor did they know they know the motivation for starting the fire.
However, investigators “don’t have anything to suggest” that McMaster’s ownership had anything to do with the arson, Holbrook said,
Early Tuesday afternoon, police officers and SLED agents were seen at a home near Henderson and Greene streets, not far from the houses set on fire. Agents appeared to be dusting for fingerprints on multiple cars along Greene Street. Holbrook said the detained man came in contact with other property going along Greene Street toward Five Points. A fire department spokesperson described nearby cars as having “soot” on them that investigators were looking into.
The fire started at a house on the corner of Greene and Barnwell streets and spread to the house next door. The two homes share a narrow alleyway, Jenkins said.
Jenkins said the heat from a fire in one structure can cause another structure nearby to catch on fire.
The fire caused “hundreds of thousands” of dollars in damage to the homes.
Both homes were occupied by 12 people — seven in one home and five in the other, according to the fire department. All 12 people made it out of the homes safely.
People staying of one house told Jenkins they heard smoke alarms going off, the fire chief said. A fire department spokesperson said officials couldn’t say which house those residents were in.
Firefighters were called to the 1700 block of Greene Street just before 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and had the fire out by 7:45 a.m.
“It could have been an absolute tragedy,” Holbrook said.
On my way to work this morning I saw the commotion on Green Street. Drive by the scene on my way home and it is almost directly across the street from the College of Nursing. Reporting that the scene is between the University and Five Points is very sloppy reporting.
I’ll bet a cold Coke that the residents are all college students.
Ping
Just read this, tried finding info on the alleged perp’s name.
Seems it would’ve been all over the news by now if he were anything BUT a Bernie Sanders or AOC ANTIFA type.
Just a thought.
Must be the perp is one of those white African-Americans.
I’m glad I don’t have to go downtown much, if at all.
The article has been modified.
A man who police believe is responsible for setting fires at two houses owned by Gov. Henry McMaster Tuesday morning attempted to set a third one, according to Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook.
The third fire, however, did not take, Holbrook said. It was unclear if the third house was owned by McMaster.
The man was identified as Frank John Wilberding, police tweeted. Wilberding has been charged with two counts of second-degree arson and possession of a controlled substance (Schedule IV), police said on Twitter.
There also is a picture and he is a white guy. looks like a frat boy. I suspect he had a beef with someone in one of the houses.
Can someone post this Twitter picture
https://mobile.twitter.com/ColumbiaPDSC/status/1128428723164860418
White boy. Looks college age.
I'm sure he's just a mentally ill perp, acting alone.
Is that a sum stain on his pants?
Cum stain, friggin auto correct.
South Carolina Ping 
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“I suspect he had a beef with someone in one of the houses.”
It’s more than that. He burned 2 houses and attempted a third.
Oh come on. That’s a anti McMaster hit piece. I’m sorry your guy didn’t win.
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