BEAUMONT, Texas — The downtown offices of a Beaumont businessman and developer are being searched by fire department investigators and local and federal law enforcement officers Wednesday morning.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF) and Beaumont Police officers are assisting investigators from the Beaumont Fire Department in the search of Tom Flanagan's office in the San Jacinto Building in the 500 block of Orleans St in downtown Beaumont, according to ATF spokesperson Melissa Garcia.
More than 20 boxes have been removed and loaded into a Beaumont Fire Department van parked outside the building.
An agent from Homeland Security Investigations was also seen at the building.
Flanagan owns the Gilbert Building which was gutted by a fire in June 2024.
In the past Flanagan has told 12News that he believed the Gilbert Building fire could have been intentionally set.
The Gilbert Building is the second downtown property owned by Flanagan that has had a fire the last two years he told 12News the night of the fire at the Gilbert Building.
"The fire was set by vandals and possible arson. This is not the first fire that occurred downtown," Flanagan told 12News the night of the fire.
Offices of Tom Flanagan being searched by Beaumont Fire investigators, ATF, Beaumont Police
12News is currently reaching out to Flanagan for comment but he has not answered or returned calls yet.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.