Officials say flock cameras led to the arrest of arson suspect.

By SARA VANDEN BERGE

The following report is based off the arrest warrant for Dana Whitley Buckelew, obtained by Beneath the Surface News.

Erath County District Attorney Alan Nash said the use of flock cameras led investigators to Buckelew’s arrest.

(Read the original report here.)

“But for the availability of flock cameras to identify the perpetrator's vehicle on public roadways, the arsonist would not have been identified, apprehended and neutralized as a threat so quickly,” Nash said.

The use of flock cameras has been in the news recently over concerns about privacy.

WHAT THE ARREST AFFIDAVIT STATES

The incident began about 5:30 a.m. Aug. 8 when the Bluff Dale Fire Department responded to a grass fire on County Road 156.

Three days later – about 10 p.m. on Aug. 11 - BDFD responded to a second grass fire in the same area and for a third time about 4 a.m. on Aug. 22.

Erath County Fire Marshal Tommy Shelton was then notified by a citizen of the suspicious nature of the fires all within half mile of each other and occurring at odd hours of the day.

Shelton then reviewed call logs and realized that all three fires were within a half mile of each other on County Road 156.

He returned to the area on Aug. 23 and met with a man who lives nearby.

According to the affidavit, the man told Shelton that he had previously dated Dana Buckelew and believed she might have been out to seek revenge against him.

Buckelew was identified as driving a 2005 white Toyota Corolla.

Law enforcement officials then used data from flock cameras to determine that Buckelew was within the vicinity of each of the fires when they were started.

Buckelew was interviewed by Texas Ranger BJ Hill and reportedly admitted to starting the fires, claiming they were all set accidentally.