A 21-year-old man faces charges after he allegedly confessed to torching a box trailer in the parking lot of the West Plains Walmart. Jack Sergious Friel was arrested Monday in connection with the arson, according to the West Plains Police Department (WPPD).
Authorities received a report of a trailer on fire just before 12:30 a.m. and spoke to witnesses on scene, but were not able to determine how the fire started or who was involved, according to a news release from the WPPD. One witness reported seeing a person in a dark-colored hoodie approaching the trailer, but did not see the person enter the vehicle.
Shortly after 2 a.m., WPPD personnel returned to Walmart, after receiving a report that a man, later identified as Friel, said he started the fire in the trailer. Friel then allegedly repeated his claims of starting the fire to officers.
Friel is charged with one count of property damage in the first degree and knowingly burning or exploding. He was held in the Howell County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
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