On Oct. 23, in the early morning hours, someone went a five-dumpster and one trash can fire igniting spree along Sherwood Way. Security camera footage caught a man tied to at least two, and it led to his arrest Thursday, Nov. 5, said Fire Marshal Ross Coleman.
Sterling Gill was arrested and accused of starting at least one of the dumpster fires and the trash bin fire within the timeframe of the others.
The fire starting spree started in the very early morning hours of Oct. 23. The San Angelo Fire Department investigation started shortly thereafter.
That morning, someone started fires in the dumpsters at Adkins Floors, Cake Cottage, and behind EZ Pawn, Dollar Tree and the strip center where Shenanigans is located, Coleman stated. The trash bins were at the Turtle Hole Car Wash, 2322 Sherwood Way.
Coleman said he and his investigators went to the car wash, and the employees at the car wash showed investigators their security camera footage that caught Gill on video in the act, Coleman said. The employees told Coleman that they recognized him as the same man who had criminally trespassed on the business the day prior when Gill received a trespass warning and told to stay away from the Turtle Hole.
The investigation then turned to other locations, some of which had security cameras. While the investigation of ongoing, Gill turned up again at the car wash and this time, was arrested and charged with criminal trespassing.
Gill is booked in the Tom Green County Jail facing two criminal mischief charges, one for the fire at Turtle Hole Car Wash, and a second charge for a dumpster fire at another location. Additionally, he is being charged with a third degree felony for retaliation because he is accused of arson at Turtle Hole during the timeframe that his trespass warning ordered him to stay away from the business.
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