TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — A 15-year-old Tacoma boy has been charged with setting fire to a historic pagoda structure at Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park.
Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist says the teen appeared in court Monday. The boy’s attorney pleaded not guilty on his behalf to charges of arson, burglary, malicious mischief and unlawful possession of an incendiary device.
The charges were related to three incidents: a break-in at the pagoda April 6, a fire April 15 that caused about $500,000 in damages and a stop last Wednesday in which an officer found a can of gasoline and matches on the teen.
Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum says Ruston police stopped the teen April 20 as he rode his bicycle to the park. He says a search warrant on the boy’s phone later uncovered text messages referencing the fire and break-in.
The teen is being held without bail until his next court date next Monday.
