Arson suspects waive preliminary hearings

Two suspects in the Ensley arsons investigation appeared in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

Suspects Jason Arnold, a Birmingham police officer, and Anthony Weaver each waived their hearing. Their cases will be handed over to a grand jury.

Arnold, Weaver and another Birmingham police officer named Curtis Thornton are all charged in connection to a series of arsons set in the Ensley community. Police say around 14 arsons were set in west Birmingham between May 9 and May 21.

Arnold and Weaver are charged in connection to setting the fires reported in the 2000 block of Ensley Avenue and the 2000 block of Warrior Road, according to Birmingham police. Thornton was charged in connection to a fire set in the 1700 block of 29th Street in Ensley.

Thornton also waived his preliminary hearing. He was charged with one count of second degree arson but has not been indicted by a grand jury.

All three suspects are currently out of jail on bond. Arnold and Thornton, both employed by the Birmingham Police Department, are on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Today in court, Weaver's attorney Charles Salvagio said his client had been threatened and that there was a physical altercation between Weaver and Arnold while they were both in jail. Salvagio asked the judge to ban Weaver and Arnold from having contact with each other, saying he didn't want his client to be harassed.

The judge granted the request and ordered all three of the defendants not to have contact with one another.

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