Irvington residents: arsons part of swelling crime wave

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Metro Police have one young suspect in custody after getting tipped off about two arson fires early Wednesday morning in the city's Irvington neighborhood.

Officers arrested the 16-year-old suspect shortly after clearing the fire scenes. They say the suspect is being held is a juvenile.

24-Hour News 8 shot video of the fires just before 3 a.m. Indianapolis fire crews battled two fires within two blocks of one another. Authorities say young arsonists hit an abandoned apartment building on Beechwood and a vacant house on Good Avenue. Both are old structures in the heart of historic Irvington.

UPDATE: City code enforcement crews were on the scene Wednesday afternoon. They said they plan to tear down both structures damaged by the arsons because they are unsafe. The demolition could begin as early as Wednesday night.

Residents said they were stunned, but not surprised.

"Next time, is it gonna be someone's house rather than a vacant building?" wondered resident Katlyn Edwards.

Neighbors say the fire fallout is a symptom of a larger problem in Irvington. They call it a crime wave. They cite prostitution, drug houses and car vandalism. They say despite the arrest that was made Wednesday, they still want the city to do more.

"We've recently had furniture stolen off our front porch. Not an uncommon occurrence," said resident Drew Harmon.

"It's not an area where you're afraid and you're terrified, but you know you are more cautious and you do kind of look out the windows at night when you hear things just to be on alert," said resident Monique Beasley.

Many residents suspect teens are behind much of the trouble. They want the city to beef up patrols and demolish vacant buildings.

"It's been vacant since we've lived here. And they've broken into it, they've spray painted it and, you know, I don't know who it is. I don't know if it's young, old. I mean it's just sad this is a historic neighborhood," said resident Charmaine Edwards.

Police say they're searching for other suspects in the arsons.

The teen arrested is being held in the juvenile detention center. They also say they're beefing up nighttime patrols in Irvington starting Wednesday night.