Arson Suspect Arrested
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 1, 2025
Homewood Police Department News Release
Arson Suspect Arrested
On August 22nd, 2025, at approximately 2:30 PM, Homewood Police and Fire Departments responded to Walmart, located at 209 Lakeshore Parkway in Homewood, on a fire call. It was determined that a shopping cart full of items was deliberately set on fire inside the store, forcing the store to evacuate. The store was closed for the remainder of the day, and Walmart reported over $130,000 in damage due to the fire. Homewood Police Department detectives began an arson investigation.
During the investigation, detectives identified the suspect as Mercutio Terrell Southall, age 40, of Birmingham. Southall is a known Black Lives Matter activist who was previously arrested and plead guilty to disorderly conduct and resisting arrest during a demonstration in downtown Homewood in 2015. He was also arrested and convicted of possessing a firearm at a demonstration in Montgomery County in 2016.
Verified evidence shows Southall attending the Black Lives Matter mass protest at the Homewood Soccer Park at approximately 11:35 AM on August 22nd. Southall is seen actively engaging and conversing with protesters at the Soccer Park. Southall then leaves the Soccer Park and travels to Walmart on Lakeshore Parkway, where he fills up a shopping cart full of rags, blankets, charcoal bags, small engine fuel, and paint thinner. Southall then pre-positions the shopping cart in a clothing aisle and returns to the mass protest at the Homewood Soccer Park. When the large group leaves the Soccer Park to go to downtown Homewood, Southall is seen driving back to Walmart on Lakeshore Parkway, where he facilitates the ignition of the fire inside the store, causing a mass evacuation.
After Southall was identified by Homewood Police detectives, he was arrested and charged with Arson – 1st Degree and Criminal Mischief – 1st Degree. Southall was transferred to the Jefferson County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond for the Arson – 1st Degree charge due to Aniah’s Law. The Homewood Police Department is working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms on pursuing federal arson charges. The investigation is still ongoing, with detectives considering pursuing charges on additional participants in the future.
Crime Report for the Week of July 6, 2026 07/03/26 DUI Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 200 block of West Valley Ave and the driver was arrested for DUI. 07/05/26 UBEV - An unlocked vehicle was entered in the 3400 block of Waverly Place and a wallet was stolen. 07/05/26 Bike Theft - An unsecured e-bike was stolen from the 200 block of Lakeshore Pkwy.
You may see a large and very visible police presence around the campus and inside OLS over the next week or so. This is training. The Homewood Police Department will be conducting active shooter response training on the campus of Our Lady of Sorrows School July 16 and 17 and July 20 through 24, from 9am to 3pm each day. This is part of HPD's annual training and will also include medical trauma treatment and first aid. We wanted to make sure you knew what was happening if you see the activity in the area.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2026 Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested Following an investigation by the Homewood Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, a massage therapist formerly employed at Escape Day Spa in Homewood has been arrested on charges of sexual abuse. Matthew Owen Jones, age 44, from Sterrett, Alabama is charged with two counts of Sexual Abuse – 1st Degree. He has been transferred to Jefferson County Jail on a $30,000 bond. The investigation began after two women separately reported allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct during massage appointments. Detectives with the Homewood Criminal Investigations Division conducted a thorough investigation, which resulted in the arrest of Jones. As the case remains active, no additional details regarding the victims or the investigation will be released at this time. The Homewood Police Department commends the victims for coming forward and encourages anyone who may have experienced similar conduct or who has information related to this investigation to contact the Homewood Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at 205-332-6217.
Crime Report for the Week of June 22, 2026 06/15/26 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 200 block of Oxmoor Road and the driver was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. 06/15/26 Public Intox Arrest - Officers responded to a disorderly person in the 100 block of State Farm Pkwy. The subject was arrested for Public Intoxication. 06/17/26 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 300 block of West Valley Ave and the driver was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. 06/17/26 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 100 block of State Farm Pkwy. The driver was in possession of methamphetamine and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. 06/21/26 UBEV - An unlocked vehicle was entered in the 100 block of Aspen Circle and tools were stolen.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2026 The Homewood Police Department has recently hired a parking control officer to begin enforcing parking violations in the downtown Homewood business district. We would like to remind all our residents, as well as visitors to Homewood, that downtown street parking and the SoHo lots are limited to three hours. There are also two parking spaces reserved for Law Enforcement Parking Only in front of the plaza on 19th Street South. Please be mindful of the time that your vehicles are parked in these areas, as the Homewood Police Department will soon be enforcing observed parking violations. We want all our residents and visitors to be able to easily access our downtown business district and better experience all that Homewood has to offer.
Crime Report for the Week of June 15, 2026 06/08/26 Public Intox Arrest - Officers responded to a disorderly person call in the 200 block of Summit Pkwy and arrested the subject for Public Intoxication. 06/09/26 UBEV - An unlocked vehicle was entered in the 2400 block of Huntington Glen Drive and a pistol was stolen. 06/10/26 UBEV - An unlocked vehicle was entered in the 200 block of Lakeshore Drive and a laptop was stolen. 06/11/26 Narcotics Arrest - Officers investigated a suspicious person in the 200 block of Lakeshore Pkwy. The subject was in possession of controlled pills and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. 06/12/26 DUI Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 300 block of Oxmoor Road and the driver was arrested for DUI. 06/12/26 DUI Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 900 block of Oxmoor Road and the driver was arrested for DUI.
