Joey Smith alleged to have burned down rural home, stole vehicle
A man suspected of burning down an Elk City-area home last month has been in an Oklahoma County jail.
Joey Smith was arrested by Bethany police in late August after finding him asleep in a vehicle that was stolen from the home that was located along the west side of Highway 34, just south of Interstate 40.
The vehicle went missing on Aug. 07, the same day a fire damaged the home.
“Besides the drug charges and the warrants, Bethany police also booked Smith on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and committing a felony while in possession of weapons,” said Beckham County Sheriff Scott Jay.
Officials suspect Smith of setting fire to the home, but charges have not yet been filed. He will be transported back to Beckham County to face charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle stemming from a case with the Elk City Police Department, Jay said.
“We expect charges to be filed on Mr. Smith in the burglary and arson of the home southwest of Elk City, but the investigation is still ongoing. We believe that Smith is also tied to other crimes in Beckham County and we’re following those leads as well,” Jay said.
Besides damaging the home, the fire on August 7 destroyed a detached garage. Units from the Elk City, Carter and Canute Fire Departments battled the blaze for more than five hours. The vehicle and some firearms were reported missing from the residence that day.
Officials say Joey Smith is from the Norman area and was in town doing construction work following the spring storms. Jay had previously said officials in Texas were notified he could be in that state.