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 April 20, 2026 04/15/26 Narcotics Arrest - Officers investigated a suspicious person in the 200 block of Lakeshore Pkwy. The subject was in possession of marijuana and cocaine. He was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. 04/15/26 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 400 block of Greensprings Hwy. The driver was in possession of marijuana and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. 04/17/26 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 100 block of Oxmoor Blvd. The driver was in possession of methamphetamine and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. 04/17/26 Attempting to Elude Arrest - Officers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation in the 200 block of Greensprings Hwy. The vehicle fled and officers pursued it into Southside Birmingham where the driver was arrested. The driver was charged with Attempting to Elude and Resisting Arrest. 07/18/26 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 100 block of Vulcan Rd. The driver was in possession of marijuana and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. 04/19/26 UBEV - An unlocked vehicle was entered in the 200 block of Lakeshore Pkwy and a pistol and cash were stolen. 04/19/26 Stolen Vehicle Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 100 block of Greensprings Hwy. The vehicle was confirmed stolen and the driver was arrested for Receiving Stolen Property 1st Degree.
Crime Report for the Week of April 20, 2026 04/15/26 Narcotics Arrest - Officers investigated a suspicious person in the 200 block of Lakeshore Pkwy. The subject was in possession of marijuana and cocaine. He was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. 04/15/26 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 400 block of Greensprings Hwy. The driver was in possession of marijuana and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. 04/17/26 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 100 block of Oxmoor Blvd. The driver was in possession of methamphetamine and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. 04/17/26 Attempting to Elude Arrest - Officers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation in the 200 block of Greensprings Hwy. The vehicle fled and officers pursued it into Southside Birmingham where the driver was arrested. The driver was charged with Attempting to Elude and Resisting Arrest. 07/18/26 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 100 block of Vulcan Rd. The driver was in possession of marijuana and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. 04/19/26 UBEV - An unlocked vehicle was entered in the 200 block of Lakeshore Pkwy and a pistol and cash were stolen. 04/19/26 Stolen Vehicle Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 100 block of Greensprings Hwy. The vehicle was confirmed stolen and the driver was arrested for Receiving Stolen Property 1st Degree.
Crime Report for the Week of April 13, 2026 04/07/26 Commercial Burglary - A business was burglarized in the 100 block of Vulcan Road and copper pipe was stolen. 04/08/26 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 400 block of Greensprings Hwy. The driver was in possession of marijuana and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree. 04/09/26 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 200 block of Oxmoor Road. The driver was in possession of controlled pills and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Crime Report for the Week of April 6, 2026 03/30/26 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 200 block of Greensprings Hwy. The driver was in possession of marijuana and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree.
Crime Report for the Week of March 31, 2026 03/21/26 Public Intox Arrest - Officers investigated a suspicious person in the 400 block of Greensprings Hwy. The subject was intoxicated and was arrested for Public Intoxication. 03/26/26 Stolen Vehicle Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 200 block of Robert Jemison Road. The vehicle was confirmed to be stolen and the driver was arrested for Receiving Stolen Property 1st Degree. 03/28/26 Narcotics Arrest - A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation in the 200 block of Greensprings Hwy. The driver was in possession of marijuana and was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Marijuana.
Child Predator Arrested FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2026 March 31, 2026 at 3:09 PM Homewood Police Department News Release On March 27th, 2026, Homewood Police Department investigators conducted an operation in the Edgewood area to arrest a known child predator. Chase Andrew Womble, age 41 of Sharpsburg, Georgia, was arrested for Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act. He was transferred to Jefferson County Jail where he is being held on a $60,000 bond.
