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Suspects Sought In Fayette Co. Arson, Vandalism

SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE (KDKA) - State police in Fayette County are looking for suspects accused of several destructive acts.

According to police, officers responded to a vehicle fire on West Gibson Avenue in South Connellsville around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

A bucket of burnt plastic and singed metal is all that's left of Larry Friend's prize pickup truck.

"Someone torched my '87 Ranger Sport truck," said Friend.

South Connellsville firefighter Jeremy Grubbs snapped some photos of the blazing inferno as Friend's truck burned. Authorities say they believe the fire was no accident.

"I think they put a rag in the gas tank as a fuse and it went up," said Friend.

Investigators confirm the case as arson.

A few blocks away, bricks did the damage to Calvary Assembly of God Church.

"We had windows into our classrooms broken, we had storm drains broken, we had screens broken," said the church's Pastor Matthew Goldsberry.

Fayette_ChurchVandalism
(Photo Credit: KDKA Phootjournalist Ken Murray)

He estimates the price tag of the damage somewhere around $2,000

The arson and the attack on the church all happened on the same night in South Connellsville and Connellsville.

"It really made my heart sick," said Pastor Goldberry.

In February, not far away from the latest vehicle fire, a semi was torched and destroyed. Investigators say they're not ruling out a connection.

Meanwhile, as police do their job, Pastor Goldsberry says his flock will pray and forgive, but justice must be served.

"He does have to pay a price for his actions," he said.

No arrests have been made and anyone with information is asked to call the Pennsylvania State Police Uniontown barracks or Connellsville police.

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