ATLANTA — Law enforcement agencies are investigating a suspected arson in Atlanta early Wednesday at a construction site of a company previously targeted in similar incidents over its role in the building of the police and fire training facility that has faced a long-running protest and opposition movement.
It happened at a cleared lot on Memorial Drive next to new apartments as part of what appears to be a construction project. The 11Alive SkyTracker flew over the scene, where law enforcement officers were inspecting several pieces of construction equipment, appearing to belong to Brent Scarborough and Company, Inc., that had visible fire damage. Police did not specifically say if that was the company targeted.
"We do have reason to believe this was an effort, a continued pattern by individuals who impact the safety of our city by stopping the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center," Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said.
Atlanta Police said they are looking for two suspects. APD Chief Schierbaum said authorities believe the two suspects entered the construction site around 2 a.m. and set fires to two pieces of equipment before leaving. In a news conference before noon, Schierbaum said three "improvised incendiary devices" had been set on the equipment.
He called on residents in the area to report to police if they saw anything on their Ring cameras or other home surveillance devices.
"We are very fortunate that a fuel tank containing a significant amount of fuel did not explode this morning," Chief Schierbaum said. "You all see the homes that are close by."
Agencies on scene included federal ATF and FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and DeKalb and Atlanta arson investigations units. Schierbaum said it was part of the local/state/federal task force arranged to respond to incidents involving the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, referred to by the protest movement as "Cop City."
Schierbaum noted a $200,000 reward is available for information leading to arson arrests in these cases. He referred the public to the Georgia Arson Control tip line at 1-800-282-5804 or Crimestoppers at 404-577-TIPS.
One previous arson arrest has been made in connection to similar incidents. Wednesday's suspected arson follows on several other incidents that have targeted construction sites over connections to the building of the public safety training center.
On multiple occasions, protesters have locked themselves to equipment at construction sites in Midtown this year, and police have alleged several arson incidents were tied to opposition to the facility.
Those opposed to the training center have protested and organized against it for roughly two years. A RICO indictment brought by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has charged over 60 people for their involvement with the “Defend the Atlanta Forest” movement, though what level of organization — if any — that might exist between various factions of activists under this umbrella has never been clear.
Some have opposed the facility on environmental and historical grounds, saying it would decimate one of the largest preserved forest areas in the city and desecrate the historically Native American land of the Muscogee Creek people. Others also oppose it on the grounds that the land was once the site of the Old Prison Farm.
Supporters have argued the training site will have a much-needed modernizing effect on the police force and others who work in public safety.
The protest movement mushroomed following the Jan. 2023 law enforcement shooting death of Manuel Teran, known as Tortuguita, during a clearing operation of the forest encampments where protesters first started opposing the training center's construction.
At his last public update on the training facility, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said $10 million in damage has been done around metro Atlanta in incidents targeting contracting companies and construction sites over the public safety training center. And previously city officials have estimated the opposition movement has ballooned the cost of the project from an initial estimate of $90 million to nearly $110 million.
City officials said earlier this year site prep work was almost finished and that actual construction of the facility would soon begin. An APD post on X last week said "significant progress is being made" on building the facility.
They have targeted December of this year for completion of the project. Schierbaum said Wednesday morning a ribbon-cutting ceremony in December is still in the works.