Oct. 26—A 58-year-old Odessa man was arrested on arson and drunk driving charges last week.
According to Odessa Fire Rescue and Odessa Police Department reports, the city received a 911 call about a fire at 2500 West Murphy Street around 12:30 a.m. Oct. 20.
Employees of the business told authorities William Lewis Arnett was drunk at work and was fired around 10 p.m., the report stated. They said he later set fire to a punching bag and some trash that was sitting next to a pile of tires.
They said Arnett left in a white Chevrolet Trailblazer and they called 911 after being unable to put the fire out, the reports stated.
The fire damaged a building 75 feet by 25 feet, according to the OFR report.
OPD records indicate officers found Arnett driving the Chevy erratically in the 1200 block of West County Road and pulled him over.
Arnett declined to perform field sobriety tests, but because he smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech, red glassy eyes and nearly fell over getting out of his vehicle, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, the report stated.
Arnett was also booked into the Ector County jail on suspicion of arson of a building, a second-degree felony.
He remained in the jail on surety bonds totaling $26,000 Thursday night.