Firefighter charged in Rehoboth blaze
Accused of startng three fires in recent months

By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

GALLUP — McKinley County Sheriff’s investigators arrested a 20-year-old White Cliffs volunteer firefighter in connection with a string of arsons, including the fire that destroyed a Rehoboth Christian School barn this week.

Capt. Jason Darnell was taken in custody at about 2 p.m. at the fire marshal’s office off Maloney Avenue Thursday.

Investigators then sealed Darnell’s Toyota Corolla before taking it to the sheriff’s department to be processed for evidence.

Meanwhile, Darnell was booked into the McKinley County Adult Detention Center on charges of arson for his alleged role in three fires within the last year. The first two fires occurred at vacant residences at 40 White Cliffs Road and 26 Bishop Drive. The third blaze was reported at about 1 a.m. Tuesday at Rehoboth Christian School barn. The fire destroyed an older bus, bundles of hay and various equipment.

Investigator Matt Hughbanks, a spokesman for the McKinley County Sheriff’s Department, said a pair of witnesses led authorities to investigate Darnell in connection with the crime.

Darnell reportedly ignited the fires and then responded to the scenes to extinguish the blazes. Hughbanks said gasoline was used to start the fires.
As of Thursday afternoon, investigators planned to serve a search warrant at Darnell's Burke Drive residence to look for additional evidence related to the case.

He is also a suspect in other unsolved arsons in both Gallup and surrounding areas, Hughbanks said.

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January 18, 2008
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