A Warrior man is being tried in Jefferson Circuit Court on four counts of second-degree arson and two other lesser charges. Thornton is accused of setting fires in the Dana Road neighborhood, as well as in Ensley while he was an officer with the Birmingham Police Department. The fires took place in April and May of 2012.

In closing arguments Thursday morning, Deputy District Attorney Joe Roberts said about Thornton, “Where there’s smoke there’s fire, there’s the defendant.”

Thornton is accused of setting fire to three structures on Dana Road, including the one where he lived with his then-fiancee. He is also accused of setting fires in two Ensley houses while working as an officer from the West Precinct.