The Centralia Police Department has arrested two juveniles for arson after a laptop computer was burned at Centralia Middle School on Thursday, according to a news release.
At about 10:20 a.m. Thursday, May 15, the Centralia Police Department and the Riverside Fire Authority responded to a report of a fire at Centralia Middle School. They arrived to find a laptop computer partially burned and smoking from its battery compartment, according to the release.
Two juvenile suspects were quickly identified and taken into custody.
The juveniles, whose identities were not released due to their age, are alleged to have intentionally set the laptop on fire. They have been booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center facing potential arson charges.
“Preliminary findings suggest the incident may be linked to a disturbing social media trend encouraging young individuals to set electronic devices on fire and share videos of the act online,” the police department stated in the release. “These so-called ‘challenges’ promote reckless and dangerous behavior, posing significant risks to public safety, property and the environment. Such actions can result in serious legal consequences, including criminal charges and long-term impacts on a juvenile’s future. The Centralia Police Department has taken a zero-tolerance approach to this kind of behavior with the support of the Centralia School District. The Centralia Police Department and Riverside Fire Authority strongly urges parents, guardians and educators to discuss the dangers of participating in harmful social media trends with youth. We are working closely with local schools and community organizations to raise awareness about the risks of these activities and to promote responsible digital citizenship.”
Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to contact the Centralia Police Department at 360-330-7680.
