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Sam Penrod ReportingLinda Kau: "It's still very shocking, it's very sad we've seen the day when that would happen."
An LDS church building in Provo was intentionally set on fire this morning. A neighbor witnessed a man setting fire to the LDS Church and that man is now in police custody. Police are still trying to determine a motive, but believe it was a random attack.
When news hit that the church building she attends had caught fire, Linda Kaou had to come see for herself what was going on.
Linda Kauo, Neighbor: "We've lived here for 30 years, so we have had children blessed and wedding receptions here."
About 7:00 this morning, a neighbor noticed a man running across 900 east with a rag that was on fire. The suspect broke the glass to the front door of the church building, poured gas on a couch and threw the rag in.
Lt. Jerry Harper, Provo Police Dept.: "He observed he had something flaming in his hand, and watched the individual break the door out in the church and throw the flame inside, then run back across the street into the Georgia Apartments."
The witness called 911 and firefighters arrived and quickly put out the fire. Fortunately, the only damage is to the broken glass in the door and a burned area on the carpet. Police really credit that witness in preventing serious damage to the church building.
Lt. Jerry Harper, Provo Police: "If we hadn't had a witness watch what happened, the fire department would have been delayed quite a bit, and if you think about it, the fire would have had a longer time to get started."
Police later arrested 55-year old Gene Perkins on charges he intentionally attempted to set the church on fire.
For church members, they are relieved that the church many have attended for more than 50 years, was not destroyed.
Linda Kauo, Neighbor: "It is shocking; it is really un-nerving to think that somebody would try to set fire to our ward house. It just seems like those things don't happen here in Provo."
Overall damage is estimated to be about eight thousand dollars to the broken door and burned carpet, but the building is expected to be repaired later today.
