Lakeland Police Detectives have arrested Bradley Thomas Nicholson in connection with recent fires set across the South Lakeland area. Nicholson was questioned and later arrested on Tuesday, July 2, 2019. The seventeen-year-old was charged with one count of felony Second Degree Arson. The charge is specifically tied to one of the incidents where Nicholson admitted to setting fire to five lawn chairs that were inside the rear bed area of a pick-up truck. While in custody, Nicholson also admitted to having a role in incidents at Dobbins Park where two additional fires occurred.
On June 12, 2019, Lakeland Police Detectives began investigating a series of incidents involving seven trash/recycling containers that were set on fire in the Dixieland and South Lake Morton neighborhoods. On June 28, 2019, the Lakeland Police Department was once again called to multiple south Lakeland locations where trash/recycling containers and a construction dumpster were set on fire. Also, during the same timeframe, five lawn chairs were set ablaze inside the rear bed area of a pick-up truck that was parked in a residential driveway. On June 29, 2019, Lakeland Police Officers responded to Dobbins Park, 514 Ariana Street, in reference to a playground slide that was set on fire. A short time later, it was also discovered that a trash can inside the restroom facility at the park had been set on fire.
Detectives are continuing to work with state fire investigators to review all evidence as the investigations continue. Additional charges related to these incidents may be forthcoming.