The Kewanee Police Department and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office pursued a vehicle through Kewanee and outside city limits driven by a male subject suspected of starting two houses on fire this afternoon. The Kewanee City Fire Department and the Kewanee Community Fire Department responded to a call for two houses on fire on E. 6th Street, near Cernovich Salvage Yard. Additional fire personnel were called in to cover the fire stations while fire personnel were on the scene of suspected arson. According to the Kewanee Police Department, the pursuit was for a male subject suspected of starting two houses on fire. They wanted to execute a pit maneuver while the vehicle was outside city limits and away from traffic, but the opportunity didn’t arise. The male subject entered back into city limits on N. East Street, according to scanner traffic. The subject returned to E. 6th Street, and as he maneuvered the curve onto N. Grace Avenue, Kewanee Police made the decision to execute a pit maneuver while they had the opportunity. There were people outside and on the streets due to the fires of the two houses on E. 6th Street. The police felt it was a matter of public safety to stop him and prevent any civilian injuries. No one was injured during the incident, but three police squad vehicles were damaged during the pursuit and pit maneuver.
I was at the scene and witnessed dozens of people in the streets attempting to see what was happening. As the suspect was being transferred to a Kewanee Police Squad car for transport, he said, “I’m sorry everyone.” After securing the suspect in a seatbelt, he said, “Man, that was an adrenaline rush.” A family member of the house damaged by the fire told RegionalMediaNews.com that the suspect called the residence and told them to get the kids out of the house because he was going to start the house on fire and kill himself. Kewanee Police retrieved a small red gas can from behind the house that was damaged by the fire.
At this time, there is an investigation into the accidents with the squad vehicles and a determination if a pit maneuver was warranted. The Kewanee Fire Department is investigating the fire, but it is believed to be arson. Kewanee Fire Chief Welgat said they were working on confirming if the house was occupied at the time the fire started. A family member said there were two cats in the residence at the time of the fire. One of the two houses suffered significant damage to the front of the house and inside the front room of the house. The second house had minor fire damage to the siding along the foundation by the front porch.
