Boy charged with arson at N. Anson post office

NORTH ANSON – State fire investigators have charged a 12-year old boy with starting a fire last Thursday in the lobby of the North Anson post office.

The boy was taken to the Northern Maine Juvenile Detention Center at Charleston, according to Stewart Jacobs of the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

This was the child’s second offense, which was why he was arrested and not turned over to his parents, said Jacobs. The boy had been charged with a similar crime at a private residence in North Anson about a year ago and was placed on informal adjustment then, the investigator said.

Last Thursday morning, the youth entered the lobby of the post office and, apparently angered at an employee there, ripped posters and flyers from the walls and set them on fire, Jacobs said. Damage to the lobby was minimal.

The crime is being investigated by fire marshal Investigator Scott Richardson.