Belvidere Police Department arrest two arson suspects

BELVIDERE – On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the Belvidere Police Department arrested two 13-year-old juveniles for aggravated arson.

On Friday, Oct. 16, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Belvidere Patrol Officers responded to 2101 Gateway Center Dr. in Belvidere (Wal-Mart) for a report of a fire. The fire was extinguished and no one was injured.

Belvidere Police Detectives were called to the scene to investigate.

During the next week Belvidere Detectives developed two suspects and on Wednesday, Oct. 21, conducted recorded interviews and subsequently arrested both juveniles for aggravated arson (Class X Felony). Both juveniles were lodged into the Winnebago County Juvenile Detention Center until they appear before a Boone County Judge.

The Belvidere Police Department encourages anyone having information on a crime or narcotic trafficking to call the Belvidere Police Department at (815) 544-2135 or Crime Stoppers at (815) 547-7867.

Members of the public are reminded that these are only charges and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the State’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.