This is a developing story and may be updated.
ALPINE — Brewster County sheriff’s deputies arrested an Alpine volunteer firefighter and longtime emergency medical technician Friday, charging him in connection to a spate of recent bushfires in the Alpine area. David Mathew Neet, 44, of Alpine was expected to be magistrated by County Judge Greg Henington today on charges of arson, a second-degree felony, said Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson.
“During the course of the fire investigations, several incendiary devices were located,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post on the arrest. The post noted that Neet is “an Alpine volunteer firefighter and crew member of the 1st Response EMS” — which provides non-emergency medical transport.
“We’ve been investigating this for a good while,” Dodson told The Big Bend Sentinel today. “These fires have been going on for over two years. We just started getting clues and using our new technology to figure it out.” Dodson said six or seven fires are likely connected to the arson. The sheriff said the case is still under investigation, and he declined to discuss specifics of how the suspect was identified.
Neet’s Facebook page lists past work experience, including “emergency services” at Terlingua Fire and EMS from October 2020 to September 2021 as well as various positions in emergency medical services agencies and companies around Texas. He also lists work in “civil affairs” at the Texas Military Department.
While many Alpine residents on social media Saturday speculated on whether these arson fires were connected to the massive structure fire downtown on Holland Avenue, officials have not indicated in any way that they are related, nor have they commented on any other structure fires that may be related.
Alpine Fire Chief Andrew Pierce said he found out about the arrest right when it happened. “I was surprised it’s one of my people because of how close knit we keep the department and how we focus on building each other up and making it a place to go,” he said. “But at the same time I’m ready to corporate fully with the law enforcement side of things and provide them with anything they need to fully prosecute this case.
Pierce said the Alpine Fire Department will be putting out a statement with additional information — possibly the list of fires Neet is accused of setting — on Monday.
This story was updated at 3:35 p.m. Saturday with comments from Alpine Fire Department Chief Andrew Pierce.