Monday at approximately 12:27 AM, officers with the West Plains Police Department were dispatched to Wal-Mart Supercenter for a report of a trailer on fire. When officers arrived, the West Plains Fire Department was working to put out the flame engulfed box trailer on the north end of the parking lot.
Officers spoke to witnesses on scene but were unable to determine how the fire started or who started the fire. One witness reported seeing a person in a dark colored hoodie walking toward the trailer but did not see the person enter the trailer.
At approximately 2:07 AM, Officers responded back to Wal-Mart for a report of a male stating he had started the fire in the trailer. When Officers arrived at Wal-Mart, they made contact with a male identified as 21-year-old, Jack Sergious Friel. Officers reported Friel admitted to them he had set the trailer on fire. Officers arrested Friel and transported him to the West Plains Police Department and placed him on a 24-hour holding pending formal charges from the Howell County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Formal charges were filed by the Howell County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for one count of Property Damage 1st Degree and Knowingly Burning or Exploding. Friel was transported to the Howell County Jail with a $5,000.00 dollars cash or corporate surety bond.
