Montana Juvenile Charged with Arson

Whitefish, Montana police have arrested a 15-year-old boy on suspicion of starting a fire that caused $125,000 in damage to a thrift store and endangered a person who lived in an apartment above the store.

The Daily Inter Lake reports the boy is being held at the Flathead County juvenile detention center.

Police say the boy acknowledged being at the scene of the April 3 fire, but denied setting it. Witnesses and video surveillance indicate the boy was in the area and in possession of instruments that may have been used to start a fire in the donation drop box.

Court records say the resident of the upstairs apartment escaped by running through flames barefoot.