May 26, 2020
By News Director Jared Atha
An Elk City man was arrested last week after being accused of setting a home on fire in Washita County.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Elk City and Canute Fire Departments were dispatched to a structure fire just outside of Canute on the afternoon of May 19. The home had sat on farm land and was not being occupied at the time of the blaze.
The affidavit stated that a deputy with the Washita County Sheriff’s Department contacted the landowners and was told moments after the fire started, he witnessed a subject run from the structure and leave the scene in a black Chevy pickup. The landowner followed the suspect into Canute but would later lose contact.
Another landowner told the deputy that he had been in contact with 36-year-old Joshua Scott Stovall and had questioned him about the fire. Stovall allegedly stated that he was at the property mowing, and that he may have started the fire by creating a spark with the mower. The court document stated that when the landowner accused Stovall of intentionally starting the fire, the suspect’s reply was allegedly “I’m sorry”.
The report stated that a third owner of the property told the deputy that Stovall did have a key to the property but did not have permission to be on the property.
The affidavit went on to say that Elk City Police assisted in locating Stovall and detaining him. While being detained, Elk City Police reported that Stovall could be heard on the officer’s body camera of allegedly admitting to starting the fire.
Stovall was charged in Washita County District Court with one count of second degree arson, with bond set at $25,000.
A preliminary hearing conference has been scheduled for August 25.
