08/23/2022
Search for:
Search …
SearchSubmitCarroll County Comet
Login
Account
Subscribe
Front Page
Local News
Community
Opinions and Letters
Sports
Faith
Looking Back
Education
Obituaries
Public Records
Public Notices
Classifieds
Place a Classified
Advertise
Services
Pay A Bill
Ad Rate Card
Place a Classified
Contact Us
About Us
Archives
Privacy Policy
Carroll County Comet
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Rural Delphi man charged in Flora arson
Arrest warrant is issued
May 09, 2018
By Debbie Lowe
Staff writer
FacebookTwitterEmailMessengerCopy LinkSMSShare
Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland has charged Todd Crider, 31, of 2915W. CR 350N., Delphi, with arson damage by fire, a level four Felony, for the Aug. 18 fire at the Lauderdale Heating and Plumbing building, 3 S. Sycamore St. (SR 75) in Flora. According to the Probable Cause Affidavit filed May 1 by Flora Police Officer Mark Thomas, Joseph Crider and Todd Crider were employed by Elmer Crider.
The building and the business, owned by Terry Lauderdale of Flora, were being purchased on contract by Elmer Crider. Also in the building was a lawnmower repair shop run by James Moore.
Flora Fire Investigator Todd Trent determined the fire was set intentionally.
Joseph Crider was interviewed by Thomas Nov. 9, 2017. He stated that he and Todd Crider were at Elmer’s residence when he overheard Todd say something about “fire” during a telephone conversation. Joseph stated at another point in the day Todd stated to him that he was going to do it. “I’m going to burn the ****** down.”
Joseph said he and Todd then went to a dentist’s office at 607 W. Columbia St. in Flora. He stated they were in the dentist’s office parking lot to the northeast corner of the building. He said Todd parked the truck and told Joseph he would be right back. Todd was gone for about 10 minutes. Joseph said when Todd returned to the truck, he said “We gotta go.” Joseph stated he then heard a loud “boom” and saw smoke coming from the Lauderdale building.
Joseph was asked if there was any doubt in his mind when he heard the boom that Todd had set fire to the business.
“Soon as I heard it,” Joseph said.
Joseph then related that when Todd got back into the truck they left the parking lot rapidly. The two cut through the country back to Elmer’s residence, which is 2871W. CR 350N., Delphi. Joseph said he asked Todd three to four times while in the truck “why he had done it” and each time, Todd told him “don’t worry about it.” Joseph stated that a few days after the fire, he and Todd had a conversation about the fire and Todd told him, “you don’t need to be talking about it and you don’t need to be telling your dad either.”
Joseph was asked if he was 100 percent certain Todd Crider set the fire at Lauderdale Plumbing on Aug. 18 and he stated, “yes.” Cell phone records indicate that at the time of the fire, the cell phones owned by Joseph and Todd Crider were both in close proximity of the Lauderdale building.
Charges were filed by the Prosecutor May 1 as was a notice to seek habitual offender status. An arrest warrant is issued and listed nationwide, according to Sheriff Tobe Leazenby
