Austin, TX
Austin elderly man accused of setting multiple fires in downtown has first hearing
Man back in court for arson charges
Austin businessman and real estate investor, Dorsey Bryan Hardeman, is accused of setting fires at different locations in Austin.
AUSTIN, Texas – An elderly man had his first hearing after being indicted for multiple felonies. Austin businessman and real estate investor, Dorsey Bryan Hardeman, is accused of setting fires at different locations in Austin.
There were four fires in three months and fire investigators said one man is behind them all.
Hardeman, 75, is the owner of Continental Automotive Group, which operates several car dealerships in Texas. Ironically, Hardeman’s car is what investigators said helped link him to the fires.
AFD said the first fire was intentionally set on Christmas 2023 at an empty building at 500 Pampa Drive. A real estate group said Hardeman had made an offer to purchase the property in June 2023, but it wasn’t accepted.
Austin car dealer suspected of multiple fires
Arson investigators say one of Austin’s biggest car dealers could be connected to several fires in the city.
On February 17 and February 20, AFD responded to fires at 4811 South Congress Avenue. Court documents said Hardeman was a partner in the business that owned the land. Investigators said those fires were intentionally set in an effort to clear the property of two remaining mobile homes that were hindering the property’s future development.
The fourth fire happened five days later at the old Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop location at 400 Nueces Street. Investigators said the door lock had been drilled out and inside the fire sprinkler system was on and containing the fires. The owner of the empty building said Hardeman owned the property next door and had previously inquired about purchasing his, but no sale was ever made.
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Man caught on camera setting fire to building
Austin businessman Dorsey Hardeman was caught on camera setting a building on fire in Downtown Austin and investigators believe he may be connected to another arson case.
During all four fires, Hardeman’s Mercedes-Benz SUV was seen on the properties. Fire investigators said they were all set by gasoline and matches.
Hardeman has been indicted on two counts of arson, two counts of arson intending to damage a habitat or place of worship, and one count of burglary of a building.
A private wealth management company and a bank have been subpoenaed for records associated with Hardeman, his wife, and nine different business accounts.
Hardeman is currently out on bond. His next hearing, which he is supposed to show up for, is set for Dec. 4, 2024. Hardeman’s attorney said he expects to resolve the case or go to trial in 2025.
AUSTIN, Texas (KVIA) — Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that Southwest Airlines will establish a new pilot and flight attendant crew base in Austin.
Abbott joined the Austin mayor at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to make the announcement today.
The expansion to Austin will lay the groundwork for future operational growth in Texas. It is expected to generate 2,000 jobs in Austin by mid-2027. In addition to the pilots and flight attendants, Austin will now also be home to managerial and support staff. The new crew base will have an average salary of $180,000 a year, the Governor’s Office says.
The state is extending a $14 million Texas Enterprise Fund to the airline, as well as a $375,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus.
“Southwest Airlines was born and raised in Texas and has been a core element of the economic growth we have seen in our state,” said Governor Abbott. “We are excited to announce that today Southwest Airlines will add over 2,000 high paying jobs right here in Texas. We are the home of economic opportunity for our fellow Texans more than any other state in the United States, and we know a key reason for that is because of everything Southwest Airlines provides. We are proud to partner with everybody connected with Southwest as well as the City of Austin on such a huge announcement for our state.”
AUSTIN, Texas — Austin firefighters battled their second major fire Thursday afternoon, responding to an abandoned East Austin auto shop engulfed in flames.
Crews responded to 3100 Manor Road around 4 p.m., AFD said.
No injuries were reported and no one was inside the building.
ALSO | 40+ residents displaced in North Austin third-alarm apartment fire, no injuries reported
The incident was called in as a first alarm. The building is a total loss, according to officials.
CBS Austin has a crew on the way to the scene.
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Earlier in the afternoon, firefighters extinguished a three-alarm fire in north Austin.
AUSTIN, Texas – The suspect in a violent road rage incident on the Capital of Texas Highway has been identified and charged, according to court paperwork.
The altercation was caught on camera.
What we know:
34-year-old Ian Kevin Brinkmeyer has been charged with criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor, in connection with the Dec. 5 incident.
At around 2 p.m. that day, officers responded to a call for service on Capital of Texas Highway, where they spoke with Brinkmeyer and another man.
The affidavit says Brinkmeyer “engaged in a road rage” with the other man while traveling north on Capital of Texas Highway. Brinkmeyer drove around the other man, changed lanes in front of him and cut him off before stopping his car.
Brinkmeyer then allegedly got out of his vehicle holding a “steel knife sharpening rod”, walked over to the other man’s car and struck the driver’s side door window with the rod, shattering the entire window.
The affidavit says Brinkmeyer then quickly walked back to his car and drove off.
The entire incident was caught on video by other drivers and posted on social media.
The affidavit says that the repairs to the shattered window cost about $480, making this a case of criminal mischief with a value between $100 and $750.
What’s next:
A warrant has been issued for Brinkmeyer’s arrest. As of 12 p.m. Dec. 11, he is not in custody.
The Source: Information in this report comes from court paperwork and previous reporting.
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