Teen Suspected Of Lighting High School Fire
POSTED: Thursday, November 30, 2006
UPDATED: 7:06 pm EST November 30,
2006
CLAY COUNTY, Fla. -- The Clay County Sheriff's Office announced on Thursday that a teenage suspect was in custody and charges are pending against him related to the fire set at Fleming Island High School.
The school’s fire alarm sounded on Monday morning and, per the evacuation plan, teachers and administrators led students out of the buildings.
No on was injured as a result of the fire.
Fire/Rescue staff, sheriff’s office personnel and State Fire Marshal Office personnel responded shortly after 9 a.m. and detectives investigated incident as a case of arson.
On Thursday, the case's lead detective, Corey Rosepiler, said he believes the young man in police custody is responsible for the fire started in a second-floor boy's bathroom.
According to authorities, paper towels were ignited and the sprinkler system flooded portions of the first and second floors, causing thousands of dollars in damage to the facility and equipment.
Rosepiler said he does not believe any other students were involved.
According to authorities, the teen faces a charge of arson to an occupied school, a first-degree felony that carries enhanced penalties by statute. However, they said because the juvenile suspect has not been formally charged or booked, his identity and exact details about him were not immediately releasable.
The sheriff's office said it anticipates the teen would be booked into the Duval Detention Center for juvenile offenders sometime Thursday evening.
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