NORFOLK, Va. - Police have made an arrest after multiple brush fires around the city Monday were investigated as arson.
Omar Sherie McCray was arrested for setting fires in Norfolk.
Omar Sherie McCray, 40, was arrested for setting four separate fires. Fire officials said McCray is in jail and confessed setting the fires.
"We were wondering what caused it," said John Delacey, who witnessed one of the fires. "It seemed a little far from the interstate to be caused by something related to that. We didn’t really know what happened.”
Delacey told NewsChannel 3 he and his co-workers noticed the fire near the Ballentine Blvd. exit just before 3:30 pm, when most people were beginning to drive home from work.
"We observed that for about 15 minutes before the fire department came out and was able to extinguish it. But it was very smokey, and a lot of commotion going on.”
In total, there were four brush fires on Monday related to McCray's arson charges, in the 3400 block of Trant Avenue, the 2700 block of Westminster Avenue and 700 Ballentine Boulevard.
McCray was taken into custody last last night and questioned. He was formally charged with arson less than 24 hours later.
Court records show McCray has been previously charged for arson in the past, along with shooting a firearm into an occupied building and trespassing on a railroad.
There were two fires in the 100 block of North Military Highway, but police say they are not related to the arson investigation.
Smoke from one of the fires billowed onto I-264 causing backups. A train traveling towards the area was notified about the oncoming fires.
Fire officials say smoke Monday caused viability issues on I-264.
Court records show McCray was formally charged with Maliciously Set Fire, a felony, in connection to the brush fires.
