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Port Arthur resident and local businessman Tom Flanagan was named a suspect in connection with the arson of the Gilbert Building Wednesday.

Local, state and federal agents executed a search warrant at the San Jacinto Building, 595 Orleans in Beaumont, which is owned by Flanagan.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Beaumont Fire Department with the assistance of the Beaumont Police Department, ATF, FBI, HSI, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, and other local, state and federal agencies executed an evidentiary search warrant at 595 Orleans, the San Jacinto Building, owned Flanagan, according to Tracy Kennick, director of Communications/Public Information Officer for the City of Beaumont.

“The warrant being executed is in direct relation to the arson investigation of the multi-alarm fire which occurred on June 6, 2024 at 328 Bowie, the Gilbert Building,” she said. “No other information is being released at this time, as the investigation is active and on-going.”

The affidavit for search warrant, signed by Judge Raquel West of the 252^nd District Court, lists Flanagan as a suspect in the arson of the Gilbert Building. Beaumont Police Det. Aaron John Lewallen filed the affidavit.

The search warrant was for all records, hard copy or digital, of any businesses associated with Thomas Flanagan or any of his companies from Dec. 1, 2013 to present day.

The 14-page document noted there were three structure fires between the night of June 6 and morning of June 7 at three different locations within hours of each other, one of which was the Gilbert Building. Fire marshal investigators considered the three fires, which were all deemed arson, to be a statistical anomaly suggesting the same suspect(s) started them.

Officials theorize the three suspicious fires in the same response district were planned to take resources away from the Gilbert Building.

The four-story Gilbert Building, which was constructed in 1902, had asbestos in it, which is a cancer causing substance, the document read.

According to the investigation Flanagan wanted to remodel the Building but learned insurance companies denied to do so because of unsafe conditions and that a number of buildings owned by Flanagan were not insured. His only other profitable option would be to demolish the structure — which comes at a time when Beaumont leaders were looking at development in that area.

The affidavit chronicled Flanagan’s financial woes; checks that would bounce, credit cards that were declined, employees and contractors not being paid routinely.

Adding to the matter were the City of Beaumont code violations and liens on properties.

According to the document, detectives learned that two days after the fire Flanagan responded to the Building as crews was in a ladder/bucket truck checking for hot spots. Flanagan reportedly asked that his engineer join the firemen in the bucket. It was learned that the person who accompanied the firemen in the lift was actually an agent from an asbestos abatement company checking to see how much asbestos was left in the Building after the fire.

Based on the information from the investigation, authorities believe Flanagan “who is in financial straits, conspired with an unknown suspect(s) to set fire to the Gilbert Building for a financial benefit,” the document read. “Flanagan was being pressured by the City of Beaumont to “fix” his Building, and the convenience of a fire would remediate his out-of-pocket expenses. Furthermore, I believe the recent news releases of the City of Beaumont’s desire to move forward with downtown development hastened his plans.”

Flanagan issued a statement Wednesday saying he was not involved nor is he aware of another other person or people who may have been involved in the fire. Flanagan has retained the services of attorney James Makin.