MOUNT VERNON — A Mount Vernon man wanted on a fugitive warrant was arrested two weeks ago in Raleigh, N.C. William L. Garlic, 31, is wanted in Knox County on multiple counts of aggravated arson and arson for allegedly setting fire to his historic Granville Road home last August.
- Owner indicted for arson Wednesday, March 05, 2008
- Fire destroys 140-year-old home Friday, August 24, 2007
According to Jim Shagrew of the Raleigh Police Department, officers received a tip from an Ohio acquaintance of Garlic’s that he was in the Raleigh area, and there was concern that Garlic could be a danger to himself. Raleigh police tracked Garlic to an address in Raleigh, then followed a lead to Umstead Park, a state park northeast of the city, said Shagrew.
Acting on fresh advice that Garlic may have been attempting to harm himself, police located Garlic in the park March 17 at approximately 7 p.m. Shagrew said Garlic was unarmed at the time of his arrest, and that the report was unclear as to what Garlic was doing in the park when officers found him.
After confirming that Garlic was wanted in Ohio on a fugitive warrant, Raleigh police held Garlic in jail for approximately 18 hours before he was extradited to Ohio, according to Wake County Sheriff’s representative Phyllis Stevens.
Knox County Sheriff David Barber said a detective and deputy from his office drove to Raleigh to retreive Garlic. Although the expense of the extradition is drawn from the sheriff’s operating budget, Barber said he submits those costs to the prosecutor’s office and the court as a matter of restitution should Garlic be convicted.
Garlic is being held in the Knox County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond.
According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, at the time of the fire, Mr. and Mrs. Garlic were having marital difficulties and had just decided to get a divorce. Thatcher said that in the early morning hours of Aug. 24, Garlic loaded all of his personal property into a car before allegedly pouring gasoline in the dining room of his house and setting the fire. Thatcher said the house was totally destroyed; the loss of property and contents is estimated at $250,000.
Garlic is scheduled for arraignment on Friday at 9 a.m. If convicted on all counts and sentenced consecutively, Garlic could face up to 19 1/2 years in prison and fines totaling $45,000.
