A 9-year-old Pierceton boy is charged with arson and criminal mischief after allegedly starting two separate fires in Wal-Mart Tuesday and dropping a yo-yo down a toilet there.
According to a Warsaw Police Department report, a fire was started with toilet paper in a bathroom, where the fire burned itself out but damaged a toilet seat. A truck driver who saw the boy leave the bathroom gave employees his description.
Also, an employee who let the boy into a fitting room found a burned T-shirt left behind after she smelled smoke when the boy left the room.
Store officials were still looking for the boy when police arrived shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday. Once he was located, he first denied starting either fire, but then reportedly admitted doing so. He also told police he dropped a yo-yo into one of the toilets. Police then located the boy's mother in the store and advised her that her son is under house arrest until the probation department can follow up on the charges and determine the amount of restitution to Wal-Mart.