Portable toilets set on fire for second time in two weeks

Police are investigating several unusual cases of intentional burning they believe are the work of the same person.

The targets have been Several At Your Service Portable Toilets in Arena Park and the religious symbol set into the ground at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 1820 Perryville Road.

The first incident occurred less than two weeks ago, when accelerant was used to set fire to several portable toilets in the city park, said Cpl. Jason Selzer, spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

The toilets caught fire for a second time early Wednesday. Selzer said police responded to a 3:15 a.m. phone call reporting the fire.

Also ablaze was the structure built into the landscape at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. The church reported damage to the landscape lighting and a garden hose along with the fire.

Accelerant had been used in both cases, Selzer said, and police believe the same person set all three fires.

There are no suspects at this time, he said.