Whitley Jailed for Threats on Potts; Admits Being at Fire Scene

Randall Whitley has been arrested again for an incident involving Timothy Potts, and statements Whitley made during his arrest may reopen the investigation into the fire at his home. After receiving a report from a detective still working the shooting of Potts last week, and from Potts himself, that Whitley was threatening Potts, a deputy pulled Whitley over Tuesday afternoon on River Street, near the Red Carpet Inn.

The deputy says Whitley reeked of alcohol, but refused any field sobriety or Breathalyzer tests. He said he had been drinking -- the normal claim of two or three beers -- and deputies seized a case of beer from the car, along with one open can. Whitley had been at the Red Cross earlier, seeking assistance after the fire that destroyed his mobile home over the weekend. Officials there said he was drunk when they dealt with him, as well. When deputies got Whitley to jail, he refused yet another breath test, and told them he'd just take the DUI. He was charged with that, intimidating a witness, driving on a revoked license, no insurance, and a fictitious tag.

As he was being locked up, Whitley told a deputy he had been at his house the evening it burned looking for the gun he allegedly threw at Potts when it jammed after he shot Potts. The gun, according to public records, has not been found. By placing himself at a scene during the time he earlier told a fire investigator he was not there, Whitley has introduced doubt into the conclusion that there wasn't any human involvement in the fire.