Wesleyan fraternity member arrested for attempted arson

LINCOLN (AP) - A member of the Nebraska Wesleyan University fraternity gutted by a fatal blaze in November was arrested Friday for attempted arson, but not in connection with fire the that killed a fellow student.

Twenty-two-year-old Brandon Lovegrove, a senior from Grafton, was lodged in Lancaster County Jail for attempted first-degree arson, hazing, illegal possession of fireworks and unlawful throwing of fireworks.

“The attempted first-degree arson charge is not in connection with the fire that killed Ryan Stewart,” says a news release from the Lincoln Police Department.

Stewart, a 19-year-old from Ord, died shortly after a fire that is believed to have started in a second story room around 4 a.m. Nov. 17. Beatrice resident Travis Mann was also injured in the fire.

Police say the arson attempt occurred near the time of the fire that killed Stewart, but was not connected to it.

Police also cited two others for hazing: Jed Tompkins, 22, of Crete; and Lance Daharsh, 21, of Lincoln.

Police Chief Tom Casady refused to comment on what actions were the basis of the arrests and whether arrests could be expected in connection with the fire that killed Stewart.

“We don't close cases like 'CSI' on TV,” said Casady. “We will continue to investigate.”

The search warrant affidavit released shortly after the fire said that fraternity members told authorities fireworks were set off in or around the fraternity house shortly before the fatal fire. Investigators confiscated dozens of bottle rockets, 1.5-inch firecrackers, pop rockets and other larger fireworks. Some fireworks were also found on the grounds around the fraternity, the court document said.

The university will begin an internal disciplinary process, possibly next week, that could result in the fraternity being put on probation or possibly shut down, according to university spokeswoman Sara Olson.

“As far as the students go, they are innocent until proven guilty,” said Olson.

She also said the university had no information beyond the news release about what led to the arrests, including what kind of hazing may have occurred and what Lovegrove may have done to warrant an arrest on suspicion of attempted first-degree arson, which is a felony.