Local News in Brief : Santa Ana : Boy, 14, Arrested in Arson at Church School

A 14-year-old boy was arrested Tuesday and charged with setting a fire last month that destroyed 10 classrooms at a private church school in Santa Ana, police said.

The teen-ager apparently set the fire at Bethel Baptist Church School on Feb. 22 in order to destroy any fingerprints left when he and two other boys broke into one of the classrooms earlier that night, police said.

The 14-year-old and the other boys, 9 and 10, were charged with commercial burglary, police said. The 14-year-old, who also was charged with arson, was placed in Juvenile Hall and the others were released to their parents, Santa Ana police spokeswoman Maureen Thomas said.

According to police, the boys broke into a classroom at the school, 901 S. Euclid St., about 8:30 p.m. and took $2 in change, tickets used to purchase food and beverages at the school and a few small toys. About two hours later, the 14-year-old returned and set small fires in several of the first-floor classrooms, apparently using paper and matches, police said. The fire caused about $200,000 damage.

Police said the boys--all of Santa Ana--were not students at the school. Police said they received information Monday that led to the arrests.

The school, which houses 480 students in kindergarten through 12th grades, is located on the grounds of the Bethel Baptist Church.