By MONROE ROARK
mroark@thecitizennew.com

Police have filed a juvenile complaint against a 10-year-old Fayetteville youth in connection with a fire Monday afternoon at the First Baptist Church.

According to reports, a call was received by the Fayetteville Fire Department shortly before 4 p.m. and firefighters found smoke and fire in a meeting room in the upper southwest corner of the church building at 205 E. Stonewall Ave.

After extinguishing the fire, investigators examining the scene determined the cause to be arson.

A maintenance worker saw a young boy running from the church at the time the fire alarm sounded, police said. The youth was identified and then questioned, with his mother present, at which time he confessed to starting the fire.

The child allegedly set fire to some furniture in the meeting room, and the result was approximately $5,000 in damage. A juvenile complaint has been filed for arson in the first degree.