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Cops estimate arson damage at $175,000

Teen suspects in Clintonville under strict supervision

By Scott Bellile


Two 14-year-old boys are released to their parents and pending further appearances in court following an arson-burglary last week that Clintonville Police Chief Terry Lorge said caused an estimated $175,000 in home damage.

The suspects are under strict supervision following a court appearance in regards to the Thursday, Oct. 15, arson-burglary at 150 West 13th St., Lorge said.

One of the boys is a Clintonville resident and the other lives in Clintonville part of the time, Lorge said. They cannot be named because they are juveniles.

At 5:35 p.m. Thursday, the Clintonville Fire Department was called to the home where arson, extensive property damage and burglary had taken place, according to the Clintonville Police Department’s daily press log.

Numerous items were damaged inside the home, Lorge said, including collectibles, family valuables, windows and doors, furnishings and appliances.

“Virtually everything in the house was smashed or broken,” Lorge said. “They trashed the house.”

A caretaker was looking after the home while the owner was on vacation and dropped by in the early evening to check on the house. The caretaker heard someone inside and called the police, Lorge said.

“We think it was random, and that’s disturbing,” Lorge said. “We’re not aware they even knew this person was gone.”

Lorge said his understanding was the suspects fled out a back door or window on foot. Officers chased them, caught them and brought them into custody.

The police are working on recovering stolen property, Lorge said, as they are working on interviewing a 14-year-old boy who allegedly received the items the boys stole.

Lorge said one of the teens was released to his parents and the other was placed in secure detention in Outagamie County over the weekend. That boy was released to his parents this week.

Lorge said Waupaca County Health and Human Services released the suspects to their families based on a set of criteria. He understands some in the community will be upset to know they’re home given the severity of the crime.

“I don’t agree with it, but that’s their criteria,” Lorge said.

A call to Health and Human Services for more information on the criteria was not returned before this newspaper went to press.

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