Anderson Hardwood Floors released the following statement today concerning the Oct. 10 fire that destroyed nearly half of the company's Clinton, S.C. plant:
"John Thomas, Director of Public Safety for the Clinton Public Safety Department, announced today that an arrest has been made in the recent fire at Anderson Hardwood Floors located in Clinton, S.C.
"Daniel Robinson, age 21, and a resident of Clinton, has been arrested for second degree arson in connection with the Oct. 10 fire resulting in partial loss of one of Anderson's plants.
"Multiple witnesses attested to Robinson's involvement that resulted in Robinson being named a suspect in the case. Robinson was subsequently interviewed and charged with the crime of arson in the second degree. Robinson was taken into custody Friday morning, Oct. 20 at Johnson Detention Center and is currently awaiting a bond hearing.
"'In cooperation with the Laurens County Sheriff's Department and the State Law Enforcement Division, the Clinton Public Safety Department was able to expedite the process of interrogation in this case which resulted in a very timely arrest,' said Thomas. 'This is a tragic and needless loss for the community of Clinton and Laurens County. On behalf of all law enforcement entities involved, we extend our deepest concerns to the management and employees of Anderson Hardwood Floors and wish only the very best for a timely recovery in this matter.'
"Company CEO Don Finkell said, ‘I would like to thank local and state law enforcement agencies for their combined efforts in making an arrest in this case. I am confident that our system of justice will properly determine the guilt or innocence of this young man. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to those employees whose livelihoods have been affected by this event. We are conducting business in a normal manner and I am confident that we will emerge stronger than before because we will have replaced our oldest, least efficient operations with more modern ones. I want to thank everyone for the prayers and well wishes. They mean a lot to us.'"
