Dangerous Game

Serial Memorial arsonists caught: Two teens arrested, but a third fire starter still may be on loose

A rash of mysterious blazes plaguing the Memorial area may be coming to an end, according to the Houston Fire Department.

HFD captain Ruy Lozano confirms that two suspected arsonists have been arrested in connection to nearly a dozen fires set in dumpsters and apartment complexes throughout December and January.

Investigators were led to the suspects after conducting extensive interviews at the Sheffield Square Apartments.

After a joint investigation lead by HFD and Spring Branch ISD police, 19-year-old Xavier McKnight and a 15-year-old accomplice were taken into custody Tuesday night. KHOU reports that both suspects recently attended Stratford High School, one of Memorial High School's biggest rivals.

Investigators were led to the suspects after conducting extensive interviews at the Sheffield Square Apartments (14814 Perthshire), the residential complex that was hit by multiple fires in January.

McKnight — charged with one count of arson for a January blaze in a stairwell at Sheffield Square — is being held in a Harris County jail on a $30,000 bond. Information on the second suspect has not been released by law enforcement, due to his age.

While no injuries were reported at any of the blazes, HFD officials told CultureMap in early February that stairwell fires pose a dangerous threat, particularly in large residential buildings where open escape routes are essential for mass evacuations.

Investigators say that additional charges are possible — and that there may be another arrest.

Watch the full KHOU report:

Memorial arson, fires, police, February 2013

Photo courtesy of KHOU Houston Channel 11

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no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

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Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana