Man accused of setting fire to Vandalia church nativity scene arrested on arson charges

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.

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