Sherwood Man Arrested for Arson

On Sunday, January 12, 2025, at approximately 3:00 pm, Franklin County Sheriff’s personnel responded to 75 Factory St. North in Sherwood, Tennessee, about a domestic situation that had just occurred at took place at the home. A female said that Louise Garner had been staying at her residence due to the cold and threats that Ms. Louise's son, William David Garner, had been making toward her. The female stated that William came into her residence being belligerent with his mother and threw items from a coffee table at his mother. The homeowner stated that she told William to leave, which he did. Deputies returned to the Sheriff's Office to sign warrants for domestic assault.

At approximately 5:51 p.m., Crow Creek Valley Fire Department was dispatched to a possible structure fire at 85 Youngs Creek Lane. Upon the department's arrival, William David Garner was on the scene and claimed he had been burning trash and caught the shed on fire. A burn pile was not burning or smoldering. The fire was extinguished, and the Fire Department held the scene.

Upon Investigator Stines's arrival, he observed William David Garner leaning against the fire truck. He asked what had happened, and Garner stated he was burning trash and caught the building on fire. Stines said he could see that the burn pile was not smoldering and that there was damage to the back of the building. Garner was then detained.

Stines confirmed the distinct burn patterns inside the shed. He also raised the fallen side wall to find that it was not burnt on the outside but charred on the inside and had the burn pattern from where the fire had been set low on the ground. Based on Stines’ observations and the totality of the circumstances, he charged William David Graner with the new criminal offense of arson.

The police report states that Garner burnt his mother's original residence, which has led to her living in outbuildings. Stines had charged and convicted Garner for the attempted murder of his mother in the past.