The founder of a Texas dealership group with locations in Austin, Dallas, and San Juan, Texas has been arrested for a second time for committing arson. 75-year-old Dorsey Bryan Hardeman is the founder of Continental Auto Group, which has seven dealerships, some representing luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Audi.
In the interest of full disclosure, several of Hardeman’s dealerships were formerly Car Pro Show affiliated dealers some time ago. He founded the company in 1966 but retired in 2017 and turned the businesses over to his children.
According to various news reports, Hardeman was first arrested last month in Austin after it was determined he started a fire at a business on Christmas day, 2023. He was also recently charged with two counts of first-degree arson and one count of second-degree arson, as the Austin Business Journal reported, for additional fires set in February of this year.
According to the website The Drive.com:
The AFD responded to the fire downtown in the afternoon, and local news outlet FOX7 cites investigators who say that Hardeman forced his way into the building while holding a can of gasoline. Investigators found metal shavings on the floor, which they said came from the lock Hardeman apparently drilled out to gain access to the building. Once inside, Hardeman "poured the gasoline, lit matches, and watched it burn," per FOX7. About ten minutes later, the man walked back to his Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 and drove away before firefighters arrived on the scene. The building's sprinkler system thwarted the arson attempt, however, and firefighters were able to contain what was left of the fire.
Austin Fire Investigators said the December fire was connected to a real estate purchase and was intentionally set at a property Hardeman was trying to purchase. Investigators also say the other fires Hardeman allegedly set in early February were an attempt to clear the area of two mobile homes, which were the only things standing in the way of real estate deals he wanted to purchase. The well-known Austin businessman is currently at the Travis County Jail awaiting trial.
Investigators with the Austin Fire Department (AFD) have charged 75-year-old Dorsey Bryan Hardeman in connection with multiple fires in Austin in recent months. The first fire was intentionally set on December 25, 2023 at 500 Pampa Dr., a property Hardeman was attempting to purchase. On February 17 and 20, 2024 fires were intentionally set at 4811 S. Congress Ave; investigators believe this was in an effort to clear the property of two remaining mobile homes that were hindering the sale or development of the property. Through video evidence and follow-up investigative work, investigators discovered that Hardeman was the person who intentionally set these fires. While investigating the previous fires, another fire was intentionally set on February 25, 2024 at 400 Nueces St. During the course of that investigation, Hardeman was recognized on security video as the person responsible for that fire. The connection to the 500 Pampa Dr. fire was made on March 8, 2024 after the insurance company obtained surveillance video and provided it to investigators. Hardeman is observed setting the fire in this video, as well.
Dorsey Brian Hardeman was taken into custody by Austin Police on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 and is currently in custody at the Travis County Jail. He has been charged with two counts of 1st Degree Felony Arson in the S. Congress fires, and one count of 2nd Degree Felony Arson in the 500 Pampa Dr. fire. Hardeman had been previously arrested on February 29, 2024 for the fire at 400 Nueces St.
Offense Dates and Locations:
- December 25, 2023, 500 Pampa Dr.
- February 17, 2024, 4811 S. Congress Ave
- February 20, 2024, 4811 S. Congress Ave
- February 25, 2024, 400 Nueces St.
Click here for the Press Release →
The dealership group’s website is: https://www.cagaustin.com. No word if the ownership of the chain of dealerships will be affected, but in my experience, it is not likely since Hardeman was no longer running the day-to-day operations, and is likely not the person of record with the auto companies represented by Continental Auto Group.
This story is ongoing, and we’ll let you know if other developments occur.
Photo Credit: Skrypnykov Dmytro/Shutterstock.com; City of Austin Public Information Office.
