Gainesville murder suspect facing jail arson charges

GAINESVILLE - A Gainesville murder suspect, who faces a possible death sentence if convicted, faces additional charges after a fire in his jail cell.

Maj. Jeff Strickland of the Hall County Sheriff's Office says Allan Robert Dickie set a "jail issued" shirt on fire but it was quickly extinguished by jail personnel and the fire department did not have to be called. Strickland said Dickie started the fire by "shorting out" an electrical outlet in his cell.

As a result of the fire, Dickie has been charged with arson in the first-degree and criminal interference with government property.

Dickie is awaiting trial in the rape-murder of Claudia Toppin, a 37-year-old homeless woman who was killed on Pearl Nix Parkway in August. He faces a possible death sentence if convicted.