A male and a female juvenile siblings were referred for arson, a Level 4 felony, shortly before 3 a.m. Friday, Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Steven Kellams said.
The BPD received a call around 4:30 p.m. Thursday about a structure fire. Sgt. Kellams said officers saw smoke coming from the right side of a house when they arrived. The house had reportedly been vacant for several months.
Sgt. Kellams said eye witnesses saw juveniles running from the house before it caught on fire and the BPD was able to locate the juveniles. Both denied their involvement in the fire when they were interviewed by officers and they blamed the fire on another group of juveniles. However, Sgt. Kellams said the juveniles had advised family members that they had committed arson.
It is believed that the two juveniles set a blanket on fire in the house, however the BPD is waiting for the arson investigator's findings for confirmation.
Andy Wittry
