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COLUMBIA, Mo. — A Columbia man has been arrested on a first-degree arson charge after a weekend fire destroyed a trailer home on Vandiver Drive. Stephen Tune, 39, was taken into custody Thursday, Oct. 8, by officers who used Flock Safety cameras to identify and track down a vehicle connected to the blaze.
Firefighters were called to the 1500 block of Vandiver Drive on Sunday night, Oct. 4, and found a residential trailer fully involved in fire. The structure was already showing heavy smoke and flames, and crews worked before the fire was declared out.
After the fire was put out, investigators shifted from suppression to evidence collection. The Columbia Police Department and the Columbia Fire Marshal’s Battalion conducted a joint origin-and-cause investigation. The goal was to determine where the fire started and whether it was intentionally set.
That work led to a suspect vehicle, police said. Detectives used the Flock Safety camera network to confirm the vehicle had been in the area around the time of the fire. Flock cameras are designed to read license plates and store location data, which can help investigators place vehicles at crime scenes.
The same camera system was used Thursday, Oct. 8, to locate the vehicle and arrest the man believed to be responsible. That man was identified as Stephen Tune. CPD said Tune was arrested for first-degree arson.
It is not clear whether the investigation has identified any other people of interest. The department has not released a booking photo or additional details about how the arrest unfolded. What is known is that officers did not report any resistance at the time of the arrest.
Missouri law treats first-degree arson as one of the most serious property crimes. Under Section 569.040 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, a person can be charged with first-degree arson if they knowingly damage property by fire or explosion while another person is present or there is a substantial risk of serious injury.
This charge is a Class A felony — the same classification level as some violent offenses. A Class A felony conviction in Missouri can carry a sentence of ten years to life in prison, depending on the circumstances and any aggravating factors.
The fact that the fire involved a residence matters. A fire in a trailer home can spread quickly, and neighbors may also be in danger. Prosecutors are likely to note that firefighters had to respond at night, which can complicate rescue efforts.
Columbia police have not said whether anyone was home when the fire started. No injuries were reported in the initial statement, but the department has also not offered a dollar estimate for the damage.
Investigators are still processing evidence from the scene. That includes physical evidence, witness interviews and camera footage from surrounding properties. Police also have not disclosed whether accelerants were used, and that detail may not appear unless a probable-cause statement is released or the case goes to court.
Because the fire heavily damaged the trailer, detectives may have to rely on burn patterns, witness accounts and the Flock camera timeline to rebuild what happened. Arson cases often take months to investigate, even after an arrest is made.
The arson arrest is the latest in a series of arrests in Columbia that have involved Flock Safety cameras. These devices are mounted in various parts of the city and instantly scan license plates. When a plate matches a watch list, such as a stolen vehicle or a person with a warrant, the system sends an alert.
In this case, the camera data was used after the fact to establish a time line, not to catch the suspect in real time. That helped investigators identify the vehicle and later track it down. The technology is not without critics, but police have repeatedly called it an effective investigative tool.
Police are asking anyone who lives near the 1500 block of Vandiver Drive to check surveillance or doorbell camera footage from Sunday night. Even footage that seems unrelated could help investigators confirm the movement of the suspect vehicle.
Fire officials also use this type of incident to remind residents about basic fire safety. Working smoke alarms, clear exit routes and a designated meeting place can save lives in a residential fire. These steps do not prevent arson, but they reduce the risk if a fire does start.
Tune was taken to the Boone County Jail after his arrest. Bond information was not immediately available, and it is unclear when he will make an initial appearance in Boone County Circuit Court.
A prosecutor will review the case and could formalize the first-degree arson charge. The court will then set a bond hearing and, if charges are filed, a preliminary hearing could follow. First-degree arson is a dangerous felony in Missouri, which means a judge may consider public safety when deciding release conditions.
Anyone with information about the fire can contact the Columbia Police Department or Boone County Crime Stoppers. Anonymous tips are accepted, and officers say even minor details can play a major role in the investigation.
This report was written from information provided by the Columbia Police Department and is current as of Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020.
