Alpine firefighter arrested for arson after recent bushfires – The Big Bend Sentinel

This is a developing story and may be updated.

ALPINE — Brewster County sheriff’s officials arrested a volunteer firefighter and longtime emergency medical technician from Alpine on Friday and charged him in connection with a series of wildfires in the Alpine area. David Mathew Neet, 44, of Alpine, was scheduled to be arraigned today by District Judge Greg Henington on a charge of arson, a second-degree felony, Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson said.

“During the course of the fire investigation, several incendiary devices were located,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post about the arrest. The post noted that Neet is “a volunteer firefighter from Alpine and a crew member with 1st Response EMS” who provides non-emergency medical transport.

“We have been investigating this for some time,” said Dodson The Big Bend Sentinel today. “These fires have been raging for over two years. We’ve only just started getting tips and using our new technology to solve them.” Dodson said six or seven fires are likely related to the arson. The sheriff said the case is still under investigation and declined to give details on how the suspect was identified.

Neet’s Facebook page lists previous work experience as including “emergency services” with Terlingua Fire and EMS from October 2020 to September 2021, as well as various positions with emergency services and companies throughout Texas. He also lists work in “civil affairs” with the Texas Department of Military Affairs.

While many Alpine residents speculated on social media Saturday whether these arsons were connected to the massive building fire on Holland Avenue downtown, authorities have made no indication of a connection or commented on other building fires that may be related.

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