DeKalb man charged with arson after deck fire at Hometown Sports Bar & Grill

DeKALB - DeKalb police have made an arrest in the suspected arson of an outside rear deck at Hometown Sports Bar & Grill downtown, DeKalb Police Chief David Byrd said.

Robert A. Warren, 38, of the 700 block of Sycamore Road in DeKalb is charged with arson and burglary in the incident, according to arrest records from the DeKalb Police Department. If convicted of the either crime, he could face up to seven years in jail and fines up to $25,000.

Warren is set to appear before a DeKalb County judge Monday for a bond hearing on the charges.

The fire was called in about 6:30 a.m. Friday, DeKalb Fire Chief Jeff McMaster said, and was contained to the deck area on the outside of the local business. No injuries were reported.

“When [firefighters] arrived on scene, their rear deck was consumed by fire,” McMaster said. “Fire personnel were able to pull a handline and extinguish the remainder of the fire. We had personnel enter the restaurant through the front of the building and they were able to search for victims, which none were found.”

McMaster said the business was closed at the time of the fire, and the damage was contained outdoors.

Tom Schmidt, owner of Hometown Sports Bar & Grill, 241 E. Lincoln Highway, said officials are investigating the incident, and his doors remain open for business.

“The fire is currently under investigation,” McMaster said. “I don’t know exactly what ignited the fire, but our fire investigators are working with the police department to determine if this was an arson.”

Byrd said Friday an arrest has been made in the fire, which is being investigated as a suspected arson. Pending charges were made official over the weekend, after Warren was arrested Friday, according to DeKalb Police Department arrest records.

“He was a person of interest anyway,” Byrd said. “It appears he was known in the city of DeKalb.”