St. Louis police add patrols trying to crack string of fires set at churches

2015-10-20T22:30:00Z 2015-10-21T15:01:05Z St. Louis police add patrols trying to crack string of fires set at churchesBy Christine Byers
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
stltoday.com

ST. LOUIS • Police are stepping up patrols and trying to develop a profile of whomever has set six fires outside churches in predominantly black neighborhoods since Oct. 8, Police Chief Sam Dotson said Tuesday.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and the Anti-Defamation League suggested a racial motive may be at play. In a prepared statement, the ACLU of Missouri’s executive director, Jeffrey Mittman, called the fires “domestic terrorism.”

“It is a sad truth that, throughout our nation’s history, African-Americans often have been met with astounding violence when they demand equality,” he wrote. “Those who commit this violence seek to instill fear. This is why arson against predominantly black churches has been a frequent tool of white supremacy.”

But Dotson said investigators have yet to confirm that race was the motive. If race or religion proves to be the reason, he said, police will seek to have the incidents prosecuted as hate crimes.

The chief noted the variety of denominations and types of structures targeted. They include Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist and nondenominational congregations — four on the north side of St. Louis and two in Jennings. They vary from the relatively grandiose historic brick structures of St. Augustine Catholic Church and Ebenezer Lutheran Church to the modest storefront used by the New Testament Church of Christ.

The churches are within about five miles of each other, and sustained varying levels of damage from fires set at their front doors from Oct. 8 to 18. Mainly, the damage was contained. Police presume, but are not certain, that the blazes are the work of the same person or people.

On Tuesday night, the St. Louis Police Officers’ Association announced that it would match the $2,000 reward being offered by the St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for information leading to an arrest.

ATF has joined the effort with the St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit, which includes city and St. Louis County detectives, and the St. Louis City Fire Department Investigative Unit. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster and Gov. Jay Nixon have offered state assistance.

Anyone with information about the fires is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.

The Rev. Roderick K. Burton, pastor of New Northside Missionary Baptist Church, 8645 Goodfellow Boulevard, has invited the St. Louis faith community to gather there at noon Wednesday to pray.

Christine Byers • 314-340-8087

@christinedbyers on Twitter

cbyers@post-dispatch.com

Copyright 2015 stltoday.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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