BEAUMONT, Texas — A search warrant in Wednesday morning’s raid of Beaumont developer Tom Flanagan’s office has named him as a potential arson suspect.
The search warrant, signed by Jefferson County’s 252nd District Court Judge Raquel West, specifically referred to Flanagan as a “suspected party.”
"The warrant being issued is in direct relation to the arson investigation of the multi alarm fire which occurred on June 6th 2024, at 338 Bowie the Gilbert building," said Beaumont Tracy Kennick.
in the search warrant, investigators allege that Flanagan hired someone to burn down the Gilbert building as well as two other buildings in the same night in order to stretch fire resources.
Police also say that Flanagan lied to them about his role in the fire while taking a polygraph test.
Investigators suspect that the Gilbert Building fire was one of three suspected arson fires at three different locations, according to the affidavit for the search warrant.
Beaumont Fire Department investigators were assisted by Beaumont Police and agents from the ATF as they executed the warrant Wednesday at Flanagan’s offices in the San Jacinto Building at 595 Orleans in downtown.
Beaumont Attorney David Grove was surprised to see ATF agents hauling out loads of boxes from Flanagan's office as he pulled into the parking lot on his way to work.
"Well I don't know what was in the boxes, but you know I was surprised to see them doing a search," said Grove.
A City of Beaumont and a Beaumont Police spokesperson both confirmed earlier that the warrant was relate to the Gilbert Building fire in June 2024. An ATF spokesperson confirmed their agents were assisting in serving the warrant.
Flanagan owns the Gilbert Building which was gutted by the blaze.
By mid-morning more than 20 boxes have been removed and loaded into a Beaumont Fire Department van parked outside the building.
Just before 2 p.m. investigators said they may be at the offices until midnight, according to a City of Beaumont spokesperson.
An agent from Homeland Security Investigations was also seen at the building.
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.
Flanagan's lawyer, James Makin, shared this statement from Flanagan himself addressing the allegations.
“Initially, I would like to thank the press outlets who are providing me an opportunity to address the investigation of the fire at the Gilbert building. That is the justification I was given when a multiagency task force comprised of ATF officers, FBI agents, the Beaumont Police Department, and other officials executed a search warrant of my offices today. They have seized a voluminous number of records and a number of electronic devices. While I am presently unaware of the full scope of the investigation, I know they suspect I was somehow involved in the fire which destroyed the Gilbert building. Let me be unequivocable – I was not involved, nor am I aware of any other person or people who may have been involved in the fire. To have been the cause of the fire would not only serve to destroy property I own, but to endanger other properties in the immediate vicinity I own which are occupied with tenants. I am actively trying to save the original structure of the Gilbert building at a cost of more than half a million dollars which comes out of my pocket. If the fire had spread, it would have jeopardized business income in the form of commercial rent payments. In short, this fire has only caused a huge headache for me, from city counsel meetings to employing engineers, environmental cleanup crews, and attorneys, it is costing substantially more to preserve the building, while fighting to do so, and simultaneously doing the work. There is no logical reason I would have ever done what is being alleged, nor am I the type of person who would ever engage in such activities."
Offices of Tom Flanagan being searched by Beaumont Fire investigators, ATF, Beaumont Police
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.