Published: April 19, 2007 10:51 am      

Ada man accused of conspiring arson

ADA — A 44-year-old Ada man was arrested late last month on the suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson in retaliation against his neighbors, and again Monday afternoon, charged with attempting to sway a witness.

According to Ada Police Department Sgt. Tracy Jackson, a report was made on March 25 against Randy Driskill, Ada, by a tenant renting a residence from Driskill in Ada.

“We had a person come to report that his landlord wanted him to throw a firebomb through a window,” Jackson said. “He reported that his landlord gave him some slingshots, fishing weights and night vision goggles in order to bust some windows out, so the landlord could throw a firebomb through the window.”

Jackson said Driskill admitted retaliation against his neighbors was the cause of the incident.

“He admitted retaliation against the people in the house across the street from his property,” Jackson said. “The house that he owns that the tenant was living in recently had three windows busted out. Well, he’s blaming these people across the street. He doesn’t know that for certain, he hasn’t seen them do it. However, he thinks these people across the street are responsible.”

The tenant of the home was afraid after Driskill approached him with the suggestion, Jackson said.

“The guy got scared and he and his wife came to the police department and reported this,” he said. “A few days later, we placed a recording device on the tenant and Driskill came back to his house. We got more conversation, with him talking about doing the windows and firebombs. In the process, the landlord brought the tenant what we believe to be Loritab or Vicodin. We arrested Driskill that afternoon (on a charge of) conspiracy to commit arson and unlawful delivery of controlled dangerous substance.”

Jackson said despite the tenant moving out and into a new residence, Driskill still continued to contact him.

“Driskill met with this witness in the AppleMarket Parking lot, trying to get him to say some things,” he said. “That’s where the (charge of) subornation of perjury shows up at. I arrested him again yesterday [Tuesday],” Jackson said.

Driskill was released on bond for the subornation charge and has an upcoming court date on April 25.

Jackson said the investigation is still ongoing.