Man accused of setting fire to New Castle playground

NEW CASTLE, Ind. - A man was charged after he allegedly set fire to a playground causing nearly $70,000 worth of damage in New Castle.




Daniel L. Miller was charged with the following offenses:

• Arson, a Level 4 Felony





• Criminal Mischief, a Class A Misdemeanor

Officers with the New Castle Police Department were dispatched on June 3 at approximately 1:01 a.m. to Baker Park Playground at the 2000 block of South Main on a report of an active fire.




Upon arrival to the scene, officers found around six fires near the perimeter of the park on different areas of the turf. Authorities also spotted three suspects who appeared to be around 30 years old.




Officials were then met with a man who claimed that he knew everything about who did it. The man met authorities at an area restaurant. While with police, the man called one of the suspects and the suspect reportedly confessed to setting the fires on the phone call. The suspect did not know the man was with police on speaker phone.

NCPD officials later found and interviewed the three suspects. Police said that Miller was, "forthcoming, cooperative, and respectful." Miller even agreed to take a polygraph test, which he later failed and was subsequently charged. The examiner said that Miller had "obvious" signs of deception, according to court documents.




The three suspects, including Miller, were charged with arson and criminal mischief. Their alleged crimes caused exactly $69,635.00 worth of damage.




This is an active investigation. Information will be updated as it becomes available.





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/man-set-fire-to-new-castle-playground-charged/