Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
-Environmental Lands Unit

St. Petersburg Police Department
Pinellas County Environmental Management

Brandon Kholos (Suspect-Arrested)
DOB: 10/27/1996   
Address: 764 62^nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg
Charges: One count of Intentional Burning of Lands (Principal)

Adam Grote (Suspect-Arrested)
DOB: 12/17/1997
Address: 834 41^st Avenue Northeast, St. Petersburg
Charges: One count of Intentional Burning of Lands

Aaron Sprague (Suspect-Arrested)
DOB: 11/20/1999
Address: 455 61 Avenue Northeast, St. Petersburg
Charges: One count of Intentional Burning of Lands

What:
Environmental Lands Deputies Arrest Suspects for deliberately starting a fire at Googe Island, within Weedon Island Preserve.

When:
The investigation began on April 15, 2017.

The suspects were arrested at approximately 1:30 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2017.

Where: 
Deputies responded and investigated a fire at Googe Island within Weedon Island Preserve.

Why/How:
On April 15, 2017, Environmental Lands Deputies responded to a fire call on Googe Island, within Weedon Island Preserve.

Upon arrival, deputies observed a contained fire on Googe Island. The fire spread an estimated 6.1 acres.

During the course of the investigation, deputies learned that a witness reported to the St. Petersburg Police Department that they observed a vessel leaving the area of the fire.

Through various investigative techniques, deputies were able to identify three suspects, 20-year-old Brandon Kholos, 20-year-old Adam Grote, and 17-year-old Aaron Sprague as starting the fire on Googe Island.

According to deputies, Brandon Kholos transported Adam Grote and Aaron Sprague on a vessel to Googe Island. They started a camp fire. Adam and Aaron then decided to light the palm fronds on fire, holding them up to other palm tree fronds setting them on fire. The suspects did not call 911. They left the island on the vessel
and watched the fire burn from the end of 62^nd Avenue.

Deputies interviewed the three suspects who admitted to starting the fire on Googe Island.

On May 24, 2017, at 1:30 p.m., deputies located Sprague and Grote and charged them with one count of Intentional Burning of Lands. In addition, Kholos was charged with one count of Intentional Burning of Lands (Principal).

Kholos and Grote were transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident. Sprague was transported to Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center.

The investigation continues.

Photograph of Googe Island post-fire:

Booking Photographs of suspects:

Brandon Kholos                                 Adam Grote                                      Aaron Sprague