VALDOSTA – Valdosta police arrested a former Olive Garden employee who started a fire to another employee’s vehicle.

Release:

Arrested: Darien D. Brooks, African American male, 27 years-of-age, Valdosta resident

On October 2, 2022, at approximately 1:15 pm., Valdosta Police Officers and Valdosta Firefighters responded to Olive Garden, after a citizen called E911 to report that a vehicle was on fire. After firefighters extinguished the fire, it appeared that the cause of the fire was arson. Investigators with both the police department and the fire department began to investigate the arson. The investigation revealed that Darien Brooks, a former employee at Olive Garden, was upset and started the fire to another employee’s vehicle.

Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Brooks, for arson in the 2nd degree.

On October 7, 2022, Investigators received information that Brooks was at a motel in the city limits of Valdosta. Investigators located Brooks, and he was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to Lowndes County Jail.

“This was great teamwork between the police department and the fire department, to thoroughly investigate this case and identify the offender.” Said, Chief Leslie Manahan.

If anyone has any information on this incident, please call the Valdosta Police Department Investigations Bureau at 229-293-3145 or the crime tip line at 229-293-3091.