Two teen-agers were arrested and charged in connection with a fire that destroyed the Kewanee Boiler office building on Rose Street.
A 16-year-old has been charged with criminal trespass to property and criminal damage to property by means of fire.
A 15-year-old was charged with criminal damage to property.
The fire in the office building broke out Saturday evening, and the Kewanee fire and police departments responded.
The first responders were on site well into Sunday morning.
“As part of their response, officers from the Kewanee Police Department began investigating witness reports regarding a group of juveniles seen leaving the vicinity just prior to the fire outbreak,” according to a news release issued today by the police department.
A police in-car camera captured footage of these juveniles in the area as officers arrived at the scene, the release said. After several hours of efforts, the officers found and apprehended the juveniles.
Both juveniles have been released with juvenile referral Forms for the Henry County Juvenile Probation Office, the news release said.
“It is important to emphasize that the investigation into this incident is in its early stages and remains an active ongoing matter,” the news release said. “Charges against the involved juveniles may evolve or be supplemented as the investigation progresses.”
Anyone with information on the fire is asked to contact the Kewanee Police Department at (309) 853-1911.
