MONROE (WWJ) -- An Oak Park man has been arrested after it's alleged he threated to set a church on fire in the city of Monroe.
According to the Monroe Public Safety Department, responded at around noon on Tuesday to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church after a caller reported that someone was inside the church, on S. Monroe Street, and was threatening to burn it down.
According to witnessed, a 29-year-old man said he was frustrated with the Catholic Church and threatened to burn the building down.
Police spoke with the man, who allegedly confessed to making the comments.
He was arrested and booked into the Monroe County Jail on charges of Intimidation/Stalking with Threats to Burn and Disorderly Conduct.
No one was hurt.
"The Monroe Public Safety Department takes threats directed toward places of worship and other community facilities seriously," police said, in a statement. "Threats involving the safety of those who live, work, and worship in our community will receive an appropriate law enforcement response."
The suspect's name is being withheld pending a review by the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office, and a formal arraignment.
More information and resources for local places of worship are available on the Monroe Public Safety Department’s House of Worship Resource Guide at this link.
