Arson Suspect Arrested

Wednesday, April 25th 2007, 4:36 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Fire investigators arrest a man they say confessed to starting several fires at the Barcelona Apartments in Tulsa. Eighteen-year-old Alex Neyman faces four counts of first degree arson and one count of third degree arson for starting a car fire. News On 6 anchor Omar Villafranca reports while investigators piece together their case against Neyman, victims of the arson are still piecing together their lives.

Kristina Maulden and her family were burnt out of their place at the Barcelona Apartments earlier this month. Kristina says the man investigators arrested, 18 year-old Alex Neyman, is a familiar face.

"He was the man who had knocked on our door to let us know that the apartment was on fire," said arson victim Kristina Maulden.

Fire Captain Larry Bowles also remembers seeing Neyman's face during the fires at the Barcelona apartments.

â€œActually approached me as the first building was burning and came up and asked me if I was with the fire department, and I told him I was,â€ Captain Bowles said.

Bowles says the conversation raised a red flag, so he wrote the suspects name down and kept an eye on him.

â€œAlso I witnessed this individual solicit television interviews with several of the local area news stations,â€ said Bowles.

Fire officials later found out Neyman lived at the complex, only a few buildings away from where the original fire was started. And Captain Bowles says investigators got a search warrant and found stolen property from the burnt out apartments in Neyman's place.

â€œAs a result of that interrogation, he did confess to setting not only the Barcelona apartment fires, but all the 10 to 12 fires of varying degrees in that area of 51st and Yale surrounding the Barcelona complex,â€ Bowles said.

The Mauldens believe the young man is disturbed and hope he gets help.

"Anyone that would choose to destroy property and risk the lives of so many people really needs a lot of help,â€ arson victim Anthony Maulden said. â€œWe're praying for him and we'd like to say we forgive him."

If found guilty Neyman could face a $25,000 fine and up to 35 years in prison for each of the four first degree arson charges.

Watch the video: Arson Suspect Arrested

Related stories:

4/11/2007 Multiple Fires Damage Apartment Complex

4/12/2007 Firefighters One Step Behind An Arsonist

4/12/2007 Arsonist Strikes Again

4/21/2007 Arson Victims Discover A Welcome Surprise In The Rubble