Might Also Be A Sign of the Times: SC Tower Sets Own Tow Truck On Fire

Here's the Anderson Independent Mail story:

ANDERSON COUNTY — An Upstate businessman was arrested for arson Thursday after Anderson County officials said the man torched his $15,000 tow truck.

Charged with third-degree arson, Ray Carson Smith Jr., 32, of Cater Drive in Easley was in custody as of Thursday afternoon at the Anderson County Detention Center. Bond had not been set as of that time.

Arson investigator Ken Blakely said the 2001 Dodge 3500 rollback wrecker was reduced to scrap metal worth $100 after Smith’s financial troubles and a damaged motor on the wrecker caused Smith to burn the vehicle.

According to the incident report from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the fire was reported around 11 p.m. Jan. 11 on Hembree Road in Williamston.

Smith told deputies that he was responding to a tow call when his truck “made a loud pop, and he pulled to the side of the road and opened the hood, and that’s when he saw the fire,” according to Blakely’s report.

Investigators turned their attention to Smith when it was discovered that the tow truck had no light bar, no fire extinguishers and no tools, according to the report.