Man arrested for arson at church

Portland Police arrested a man suspected of arson Monday.

The Portland man, whose name had not been released as of press time, allegedly set fire to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and its parsonage.

Police received a call from a resident at 503 E. Main St. about 7:53 a.m. Monday regarding another tenant in their duplex pouring kerosene all over the stairway and front porch. According to a police phone log, the resident also stated the tenant broke the windows. Officers began searching for the man, and a city employee soon witnessed him walking out of the church parsonage at 506 E. Walnut St.

That’s when police discovered the inside of the church and parsonage were on fire.

“It was pretty well cooked on the inside,” said Portland police investigator Jeff Hopkins of the parsonage.

Portland Fire Department responded to the scene and put out the flames. Both buildings sustained interior fire and smoke damage.

The suspect was taken for a mental evaluation Monday.

“It (was) a great effort by law enforcement and (the) fire (department),” Hopkins said. “Had it been another five minutes, it could’ve been a bad situation.”

Portland Fire Chief Mike Weitzel and Portland Police Chief Mitch Sutton noted there is an ongoing investigation into the matter.