EBRSO deputy in training arrested for arson

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – An East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office deputy in training was fired and arrested on arson charges Friday, October 4th.

According to authorities, Otis Williams, 45, a sworn EBRSO law enforcement officer at the time of the incident, admitted to paying another man, McConnell Williams, 44, $1,000 to damage his vehicle.

According to officials, Otis' 2017 Audi A7 caught fire on August 4 at a local business in the 6900 block of Siegan Lane. The fire also damaged a nearby vehicle.

St. George Fire investigators determined arson as the cause of the fire and identified McConnell Williams as the person who set the vehicle on fire. An arrest warrant was issued against him for aggravated arson.

Investigators also determined that Otis and McConnell had previously interacted with each other. Phone records allegedly showed communication between the two. On the day of the incident, McConnell and Otis were also observed on video in the parking lot where the fire started.

McConnell allegedly returned later, poured gasoline on the vehicle and set it on fire.

Otis was invited for an interview on Thursday, October 3, in which he denied knowing McConnell. The next day, he allegedly admitted that he paid McConnell to damage his car so he could get the insurance money to buy a truck.

He was terminated today before his arrest. Otis is charged with two counts of aggravated arson, one count of automobile insurance, one count of felony theft, one count of abuse of office and one count of arson with intent to defraud.

He was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

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