DPS Offers Composite Sketch, Reward for Suspect in Arson at Capitol

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced today that the individual previously sought as a person of interest in the recent vehicle arson at the Texas State Capitol is now considered the suspect in that investigation; and a reward of up to $10,000 is now being offered for information that leads to his arrest. All tips can be offered anonymously. In addition, DPS released a composite drawing and new photo of the suspect. 

Above: A composite drawing of the suspect in the vehicle arson. Composite may not be an exact likeness of the suspect.

On Friday, Aug. 7, the suspect was seen in and around the capitol beginning at around 8:30 a.m. At approximately 2 p.m. that day, emergency officials received reports of a vehicle on fire near the capitol building on the south driveway. That same day, the suspect was last seen traveling south on South Congress Avenue as far south as Fifth Street.

The suspect is a white male, between the age of 20 and 45, at least 6 feet tall, and weighing between 195 and 245 pounds, with an athletic build and was clean shaven. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, dark-colored shorts, flip-flops and a tan camouflage baseball cap. 

The investigation into this incident is ongoing, and no other details are available at this time.

If the public has any information about this suspect or this incident, they are urged to notify law enforcement. As a reminder, all tips can be offered anonymously.

To be eligible for the cash rewards, there are three different ways to provide anonymous tips: 

• Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
• Text the letters DPS – followed by your tip – to 274637 (CRIMES) from your cell phone.
• Submit a tip online: https://www.tipsubmit.com/WebTipsCSI.aspx?L=E&AgencyID=650.

Texas Crime Stoppers, which is funded by the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division, offers cash rewards to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of a suspect responsible for a particular crime.