VANDALIA — A joint investigation by the Vandalia police and fire departments led to the arrest of a man on charges of arson for two fires including one that damaged a church’s nativity scene.
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Garrett Cook, 20, was arrested Tuesday on charges of aggravated arson, vandalism, and desecration of a place of worship, a Vandalia Fire Department spokesperson said in a media release Wednesday.
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Cook was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and remains booked as of Wednesday afternoon, jail records show.
Cook is facing charges for intentionally setting fires December 1 that caused damage to the nativity scene in front of Hopeland Church on Miller Lane. A second fire also intentionally set damaged a van parked on the church’s property, the spokesperson said.
Previously, investigators said several bales of straw inside the nativity scene were lit on fire.
Additional details were not released.
City of Vandalia Fire Investigators apprehend suspect in connection with recent arson fire at local church. See below for more info.
Posted by City of Vandalia Division of Fire on Wednesday, January 5, 2022
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