Crime & Safety
Crime Blotter: Arson Suspected at Lapeer Park
The following information was supplied by the Dearborn Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
A fire reported this week at is believed to be a case of arson, according to Dearborn police reports.
On Wednesday around 9 p.m., a homeowner on Roulo was taking the trash out behind his garage, which backs up to the park. The man called 911 when he saw a fire in the park, and told police that he saw a group of six or seven teenage males walking through the park away from the fire.
According to the resident, when sirens of police cars and fire trucks could be heard, the teens ran away.
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Police reported that the fire, which was quickly extinguished by firefighters, was started underneath a jungle gym near the north side of the park. It appeared that a Department of Public Works barrier and a thick book were used to start the fire, but without accelerants such as gasoline. Police were unable to identify the book.
The jungle gym was fine; however, a plastic Tic-Tac-Toe game was badly melted.
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During the investigation, six teenage males were standing near a fire truck and were questioned by police. However, after searching their belongings and vehicle, police determined that they were not involved with the fire. Instead, the boys said they saw the police and fire trucks and stopped to see what was going on.
No other witnesses or suspects in the arson were located.
For questions on the police blotter, email jessica.carreras@patch.com.
