801 Crockett Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
318/ 673-6655 ● FAX: 318/ 673-6656 ● www.shreveportfire.org

Kelvin J. Cochran, Fire Chief

July 16, 2002

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Investigators Arrest Suspect In Arson Domestic Violence Case

Shreveport Fire Department Arson Investigators have arrested a Shreveport man and charged him with aggravated arson following an investigation into an auto and mobile home fire last month at Forest Mobile Estates. . .

Charged with the crime was Robert Barber, 32, of Shreveport. He was arrested yesterday afternoon at work in Shreveport and booked into city jail for the felony arson charge and a separate but additional charge of assault.

The arson occurred in the early morning hours of June 23, just after midnight. When Shreveport firefighters arrived at the mobile home park, they found a 1996 Saturn heavily involved in flames and the front porch and side of the mobile home at lot 238 on fire. The arresting fire investigator, Randy Stephens, alleges that Barber poured gasoline onto a car and front porch of the mobile home owned by Ashley Harris - Barber’s estranged girlfriend. No one was home at the time of the fire which officials said destroyed the automobile and damaged a portion of the mobile home.
The aggravated arson charge carries a maximum jail sentance of 20 years at hard labor. The assault charge facing Barber is also against Harris. Barber was on probation stemming from a Texas forgery of timber charge. ###