Cats, gas fuel hot dispute

Cat hair and "a trail of accelerant" helped Shelbyville police determine the suspect in a fire set early Wednesday inside a pickup truck on Cates Street.

That trail plays a pivotal role in the arrest of William Benton Pamplin, 60, of Cates Street, who is charged with setting fire to personal property, vandalism and auto burglary. Pamplin is free on $45,000 bond, Bedford County Jail records indicate.

A neighbor of Pamplin, who told police they have had recent disputes over cats and gunshots, said he was awakened about 4:30 a.m. by the truck's horn blowing. He noticed smoke coming from the truck and a fire smouldering inside.

A funnel containing a "sugar substance" was on the ground next to the truck's driver's side door and a "strong odor of gasoline was in the air," officer Jerry Lawrence said.

Detective Sgt. Brian Crews and Detective Charles Merlo said they found the "trail of accelerant" leading from the truck toward Pamplin's residence and sugar on the ground near the truck's fuel tank door.

"It appeared as though the suspect fled on foot from the truck toward that area and spilled the accelerant on the ground," Crews said in his report.

Merlo saw another funnel containing sugar and "fresh liquid" on Pamplin's carport. Officers left the items untouched on advice from Assistant District Attorney Mike Randles until a search warrant could be obtained, Crews said.

"Near the fuel tank there was a large amount of cat hair," Crews said. "The cat hair appeared to have transferred onto the truck from someone's clothing as they leaned up against the truck. This was the only place on the truck where there was cat hair found."

Pamplin keeps several cats at his home, the report said. He had accused the neighbor of shooting one of the cats several months ago before discovering it had actually been bitten by another cat, the neighbor said and police reports confirm. The neighbor told police he suspected Pamplin of shooting into his home earlier this year, although no charges have been filed.

Sgt. Bill Logue lifted a palm print and partial fingerprint from the truck, both which will be sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Pamplin arrived home about 1 p.m. before Crews arrived with the search warrant. Officer Mitchell Warren said Pamplin went to the carport and began kicking the funnel away.

"It was obvious to me that Pamplin was attempting to kick the evidence out of sight and destroy the evidence of sugar from within the funnel," Crews said. Pamplin told Crews he could take the funnel.

The truck's owner told police fuel cans normally kept beside Pamplin's home were missing. Pamplin stopped talking and asked for an attorney when the cans were mentioned during questioning, Crews said.