SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement and fire officials investigating an arson fire at a bank in Salina have made an arrest.
Just after 11p.m. Thursday, a citizen was driving past First Bank Kansas, 1333 W. Crawford in Salina, when they observed the side of the building on fire, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.
As the citizen pulled up to the bank, they observed an SUV leaving the area. The suspect had set plywood, which had been used to cover the previous damage, on fire.
Damage was valued at about $20. The citizen stomped out some wood which was on fire. Bank employees advised officers of a subject, 43-year-old Mathew Phouthavong of Salina, who was disgruntled with the bank.
Officers proceeded to Phouthavong’s residence in the 1600 block of W. Republic in Salina where they located him and the vehicle matching the suspect vehicle. The vehicle was still warm to the touch. Phouthavong was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Saline County Jail on two counts of Arson.
Just after 8a.m. Wednesday, police responded to First Bank in reference to a damage to property, according to Feldman.
It was determined when employees arrived they located a window along the west side of the building had been broken out with an unknown object.
The suspect then started a fire in the area of the window, damaging some window trim and carpet just inside the damaged window.
No entry was gained into the building. The damage is valued at $4,000. Salina Fire Department Fire Inspectors assisted with the investigation.