UPDATE – Arsonist Assaults Reporter Covering Fire
March 29th, 2016 by Joe Burgess
In an update to yesterday’s report about a Warren man that attacked a news reporter, at a fire, According to the Arkansas State police, “as a result of the housefire, Troy Drake (the man who attacked the reporter) is being charged with arson and 1st degree Battery”
Well, now we know why he didn’t want the news reporter there.
Posted March 28, 2016
According to SalineRiverChronicle.com, the Warren Fire Department received a call alerting them to a house, Friday afternoon. While the firemen were working to put out the fire, the local newspaper editor, Tim Kesler arrived to cover the fire for The Eagle Democrat.
According to Mr.Kesler, he was approached by Troy Drake, son of the owner of the home. They spoke for a few moments, and then Mr. Drake’s mother walked up and suggested that Mr. Kesler might need to leave due to the fact that her son was becoming upset.
Seconds later, Mr. Drake attacked him with an iron tool, which he had taken from a fire truck.
Mr. Kesler was knocked to the ground and received two blows to the head resulting in a serious gash. He told salineriverchronicle.com that Drake continued to try to attack him. Firemen came to Mr. Kesler’s rescue and halted the attack.
Kesler was taken to the emergency room of Bradley County Medical Center by ambulance and received several staples to close his wound.
Mr. Drake was arrested by the Warren Police Department and remains in jail and is charged with battery 1st.
SalineRiverChronicle.com had been at the fire moments earlier but did not witness the altercation.
At this time, the cause of the fire and the battery charge are under investigation by the Arkansas State Police.
That is sad. The Reporter was just doing his job and for someone to attack him for that is just stupid. They should put him under the jail.
I kno this guy and he had lived in that home for the entire 32 years of his life and they had already asked the reporters to please be respectful of their home and belongings and asked him to leave. I don’t underatand why reporters are allowed to show up w first responders and write or develop their theory on a story as a families home burns to the ground or report from an accident w a picture of a mangled car and no survivors. Why can’t they develop their story from their news room after families have been contacted and the first responders and emergency personnel are gone. Tell me how his story was different from the news room or the front yard of a family who was loosing their home, and all their belongings, child hood pictures, things left behind from deceased family members, and the only things he had left of a father whom was taken from him as a small child. I am very sorry Mr Kestler was injured and i kno the young man also feels very upset and sorry for his behavior but I can’t say that after being asked to leave and to please respect their privacy in their time of mourning that I wouldn’t have had some type of temper..fit.. rage..loss of control.
Well, I don’t know what this young man’s motives were, but to me, this is obvious. It was a very tense, personal, devastating, unimaginable time to be going through. Not something that should be broadcast across as news. You would appreciate the same respect and personal space while your family endured such a tragic loss. Plus, he was probably on personal property. This is the issue with this town. So quick to gossip and so slow to understand. Yes, let’s crucify and jail someone who is having one of the worst days imaginable. Plus, the reporter was warned. But if you want to see SEARK remain so stagnant and underdeveloped, then be my guest. Just don’t be surprised when the last one to stone is you. What you wanted, no?
not saying he was right but he was asked to leave. if he didnt want to get hit maybe he should have left the property when asked
Per a follow up, it appears he was drunk and he is being investigated for arson. What kind of idiot 31 year old would do this to his Momma’s house? They need to lock him up for a long time. He obviously needs help and plenty of time in jail could be his only hope.
Reporters show up on the scene to things because their readers had rather have photos of such incidents instead of just a story. I’m sorry that’s the way it is. And, when you are standing on the sidewalk or on the curb, you’re on public property not on private property.
No one should be hurt just trying to do their job.
I am saddened to think people would side with this man that took it upon himself to bring harm to the news reporter and the excuse is because he was hurting and wanting to be respected. You all put every thing on Facebook anyway. So why not allow a professional to do his job. My prayers are with the news reporter and all the first responders that never know the dangers and idiots that await when just trying to do their jobs.
send him up the river this idiot has beat and abused his mother and also told her he was going to burn down the house so lay off the reporter.
Just really sad the paths that some people take. Maybe this time in jail will clean him up a bit. But it may be too late.
FYI – never side with the one who commits a crime. This guy is guilty of arson and 1st degree battery. He’s a felon. If anyone wants to stick up for him, I’m sure he would let you sit in for his prison time. Poor guy, right? Come on! For the ones that stick up for the felon, show up and court, bail him out, and donate your time in the prison to cover for him. I’m sure he would appreciate that.
Sounds like a hate crime to me