Man facing charges in connection with Lebanon business fire

LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) — Police detectives and fire marshals worked together to investigate a Tuesday morning blaze at a Lebanon business, resulting in an arson arrest.

Officials said members of the Lebanon Police Department (LPD) and the Lebanon Fire Department (LFD) responded to a structure fire at the Kane & Crowell Law Office in the 100 block of S. College Street during the early morning hours on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

“The situation could have turned really bad really quick,” a public information officer for the LPD, Zach Patton, told News 2. “But we’re thankful for the quick response by our officers and our firefighters here in the city of Lebanon.”

The blaze was quickly extinguished in the unoccupied building, but due to the suspicious nature of the fire, investigators from both LFD and LPD were called to the scene. As a result, LFD said its fire marshals determined the blaze was intentionally set.

According to authorities, LPD detectives reviewed surveillance footage and spoke to witnesses to develop a suspect vehicle. Then, they identified the owner using license plate recognition technology.

“There were some items on the roof — a couple bags,” Patton said. “Once the fire was extinguished, they were able to get access to those said bags and there were some form[s] of accelerants in there.”

The next day, police said they took 43-year-old Jerry Travis Tramel of Lebanon into custody, charging him with one count of arson and one count of vandalism between $60,000 and $250,000.

“I am grateful for our dedicated detectives and officers who worked quickly and with the utmost professionalism to identify and locate the suspect,” Lebanon Police Chief Mike Justice said in a statement released on Friday, Aug. 16. “It’s reassuring to know that as a department, we have the resources and technology at our disposal to assist us in quickly solving cases and locating suspects.”

“LFD Fire Marshal’s office worked relentlessly with LPD to process the evidence throughout their investigation. Through their hard work and determination they were able to assist LPD in the arrest of the suspect,” the fire department posted on Facebook.

“Arson is not very common here in Lebanon,” Patton said. “We’re thankful to live in a very good community with good residents.”

No additional details have been posted about this incident.

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