Investigators said several small fires at an East Moline apartment complex may have been intentionally set.
Someone reported heavy smoke in a first-floor hallway of a building at Deerfield Woods Apartments, in the 1000 block of 51st Avenue, just before 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 17, 2015. Moments later, a similar report of heavy smoke in a first-floor hallway came from another building in the complex, in the 1000 block of 50th Avenue. Both buildings were evacuated and, at both locations, a small trash fire was found a hallway corner near the laundry room.
A similar trash fire, in a first-floor hallway, was also reported at another building in the complex January 15, according to East Moline Police Detective Commander Lt. Darren Gault.
"In all three incidents the apartment buildings sustained minor damage to carpet and walls in the hallways of the three buildings," Gault said. The fires have been labeled suspicious and it's become a criminal investigation for police.
Anyone with information about any of these fires is asked to call East Moline Police at 309-797-0402 or Crime Stoppers at 309-762-9500. Tips can also be submitted online at http://www.qccrimestoppers.com.
