2 men arrested in most serious of string of 19 Reno arsons

RENO - Two 20-year-old men were arrested Saturday in connection with a May 27 fire that caused more than $1 million damage to a Reno medical clinic - the most serious in a string of 19 suspicious blazes here.

While the two haven't been ruled out as suspects in some of the other fires, investigators think other arsonists are involved in the spree. No one was injured in the fires, but total damage is estimated at more than $2.5 million.

Jason Stokely and William Hermant, both of Reno, were arrested after they were found by officers near the scene of suspicious car and brush fires early Saturday morning in south Reno.

Subsequent questioning led to their arrests on a first-degree arson charge for the medical clinic fire and on third-degree arson charges for the car and brush fires.

''They appeared to be thrill seekers who were out destroying property for the fun of it,'' Reno Fire Marshal Larry Farr said.

''These kind of people on the streets can cause a lot of damage to people and we're fortunate they haven't hurt anyone. I think residents are safer than they were yesterday.''

At this point, there's no known connection between the two suspects and the string of other arsons that have plagued Reno since March 30, Farr said.

But an investigation continues and the suspects haven't been ruled out as suspects in some of the other fires, many of which have involved construction sites.

''We'll continue to follow up information with these two subjects and see if we can close up some other arsons,'' Farr said. ''But definitely, others are involved than just these two.''

The two suspects are believed to be the men caught on surveillance cameras casually spreading gasoline around Saint Mary's Meadowood Medical Plaza in south Reno.

The fire destroyed nearly a third of the clinic that housed insurance offices, a laboratory and six medical practices. The rest of the building sustained heavy smoke damage.

''The clinic might be closed for a year,'' Farr said. ''They'll either have to gut the building or demolish it.''

Other blazes destroyed a new apartment building near downtown, an office complex under construction in southwest Reno and two homes under construction in northwest Reno.

Smaller fires damaged the Reno police internal affairs building at Idlewild Park and the Kids Kottage Emergency Child Protection Center in south Reno.

No other arrests were imminent in the string of fires.

''We've got some leads on the others and hopefully in the next few weeks we'll make some arrests,'' Farr said.