Arson Investigation in North Augusta Leads to Two Arrests
An arson investigation in North Augusta began in June following a fire at Palmetto Place Apartments in the 1200 block of West Martintown Road.
North Augusta Public Safety responded to the fire in one of the units June 2. They said heavy smoke could be seen when they arrived.
“Fire crews entered the apartment and extinguished the fire and began clearing the smoke from the apartment. At that time, it was discovered that there were multiple fires in different rooms of the apartment,” according to a news release from the North Augusta Department of Public Safety.
Investigators said the apartment was secured and they began a possible Arson investigation.
Arson Investigation Included South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Arson Investigators were called to the scene of the fire, along with SLED Forensics Division.
That’s when two suspects were identified and arrest warrants were obtained.
On July 11, the two suspects were taken into custody in Darlington, South Carolina.
In custody are 41-year-old Nelson Dwayne Locklair and 30-year-old Brian Keon Byrd.
Both have been charged with Arson 2nd Degree.
Locklair and Byrd were initially booked into the Darlington County Detention Center on Thursday. Both were extradited to Aiken County today and are being held at the Doris C. Gravit Detention Center.
