Arrest made in Raymore church fire

Posted by GSDispatch Editor in Featured, GSD Online, News, source: CASS COUNTY DEMOCRAT MISSOURIAN

Raymore police on Friday arrested a 17-year-old Peculiar youth in connection with a Jan. 23 fire that destroyed a 119-year-old former church building.

The former St. Paul’s United Methodist Church at 105 W. Plum, burned after Joseph T. Kalinka and others allegedly broke into the building in the overnight hours of that day, police said. Kalinka has been charged with felony arson and burglary and was being held in the Cass County Jail on $15,000 bond pending a court appearance today before Associate Circuit Judge Thomas Campbell.

The investigation is ongoing, according to Raymore Police Capt. Jimmy Wilson, and detectives are continuing to interview others that may have been involved with the incident, he said.

The fire was first discovered around 1:30 a.m. Jan. 23 by passing Raymore patrol officer Chase Parkey, who smelled smoke in the area, according to Capt. Roger Mayberry. Sgt. Aly Abdelgawad responded to the scene and observed smoke coming from the church building, Mayberry said.

Moments later, the unoccupied building was fully engulfed in flames…

READ MORE: Arrest made in church fire.

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