Executive Summary
- Grace Carol Brown, 21, was arrested and charged with arson and burglary of a building.
- The incident occurred on January 14 at the Comal County Republican Headquarters in New Braunfels, Texas.
- The investigation involved the FBI, New Braunfels Police, and the Fire Marshal’s Office.
- Brown is being held on a $200,000 bond while the investigation continues.
Authorities in New Braunfels, Texas, have arrested a 21-year-old woman in connection with an arson investigation involving the Comal County Republican Headquarters, according to a statement released by city officials.
Grace Carol Brown was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with burglary of a building and arson. The City of New Braunfels reported that Brown was subsequently booked into the Comal County jail, where her bond was set at $200,000.
The investigation commenced on January 14, when New Braunfels police officers and fire officials responded to the Republican headquarters located in the 200 block of Landa Street around 1:15 p.m. According to the news release, employees at the facility discovered that windows had been shattered and a fire had been ignited inside, resulting in minor damage to the structure.
Investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the New Braunfels Police Department, and the New Braunfels Fire Marshal’s Office collaborated on the inquiry, which ultimately identified Brown as the suspect. Officials stated that additional charges could be filed as the investigation remains active.
Procedural Next Steps
The involvement of federal agents alongside local law enforcement underscores the rigorous nature of investigations involving attacks on political infrastructure. As the case moves forward, prosecutors will likely leverage forensic evidence gathered by the Fire Marshal and FBI to substantiate the charges of arson and burglary. It is important to note that all individuals, including Ms. Brown, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
