Four juveniles are charged in GN Park arson
(Photo courtesy SHEYNA RUST)A shelter and portable bathroom structure was destroyed Saturday night in what Selkirk Fire Rescue and EMS Chief Ron Stocking termed a suspicious fire.
(Photo courtesy NICK RUST)A building at Great Northern Park in Sandpoint was destroyed in what officials are saying is a suspicious fire.
(Photo courtesy NICK RUST)A building at Great Northern Park was destroyed in a suspicious fire Saturday.
SANDPOINT — Loose lips sink ships.
They also quickly unravel criminal acts, as is happening in the case of the torching of an outbuilding at Great Northern Park.
There were no suspects immediately after the fire destroyed the Sandpoint Parks & Recreation Department facility and adjoining portable toilets on April 23 or 24.
By the end of the week, the situation turned in investigators’ favor.
“They were bragging about it. So that person told somebody who told somebody that told us,” said Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon.
The “they” turns about to be a quartet of juveniles, two boys and two girls between the ages of 13 and 15 years old, Coon said. One is expected to make an initial appearance in juvenile court today, while the other three are being summonsed to appear in court next week.
All four are charged with second-degree arson.
“Through fine detective skills they confessed,” said Coon.
The fire caused, at a minimum, $20,000 in damages, according to Sandpoint Police. The structure provided for all-weather usage of the portable toilets, in addition to storage for sports equipment.
“We’re still trying to calculate the final cost,” said Coon.