AUBURN, Ind. (AP) — Authorities say a lit firework placed in a book return chute caused the fire that extensively damaged a northeastern Indiana library.
Auburn Police Chief Martin McCoy said Friday that 24-year-old Nykolas Eugene Elkin of Auburn has been charged with arson and possession of a destructive device or explosive in connection with the fire at the Eckhart Public Library.
McCoy says tips from the public led police to Elkin.
The fire that began about 2:30 a.m. Sunday caused extensive damage to its first floor and smoke and heat damage to the basement and second floor.
Library Director Janelle Graber has said books, materials, furnishings and computers all were damaged.
Elkin was being held in the DeKalb County Jail. Online court records do not list an attorney for him. This guy needs some severe punishment. What a moronic thug to do such a thing.
Here is some info from his Facebook pages. This moronic criminal is one of these people who plays video games all his life. He thought that torching the library was a joke:
Intro
- Former Molding at Therma Tru
- Former Crew at Wendys
- Former ICS Associate at Walmart
- Studied at Dekalb High School
- Went to Dekalb High School
- Lives in Auburn, Indiana
- Single
- From Auburn, Indiana
Obviously this moron cannot hold a job; and he decided to torch a library. What a criminal!
==================
Auburn man charged with Eckhart Library arson
Nykolas Eugene Elkin; hopefully he rots in jail for a long-long time.
Investigators say he dropped a burning firework into book-return chute.
by Bob Caylor of The News-Sentinel
Friday, July 07, 2017 03:15 pm
A 24-year-old Auburn man has been charged with two felonies related to the fire Sunday morning that caused heavy damage at the Eckhart Public Library in Auburn.Investigators say Nykolas E. Elkin, whose last known address was a motel in Auburn, chucked a lighted firework into a book-return drop-slot, igniting the fire in the library. He has been charged with possession of a destructive device or explosive with intent, a Level 2 felony; and arson, a Level 4 felony, according to a news release from the Auburn Police Department.
At about 2:20 a.m. Sunday, Auburn police and firefighters were dispatched to the Eckhart Library and found an active fire inside. The Auburn Fire Department brought the fire under control within 10 minutes, but the library was heavily damaged by heat, flame, smoke and water.
Several law-enforcement agencies and a private contractor cooperated in investigating the fire. On Wednesday, they determined that the fire had been caused by a consumer firework that was ignited and placed in a book-return drop-chute. Police appealed to the public for help in finding out who dropped the firework into the library. The public responded with tips, and Elkin was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, police said.
In addition to the Auburn police and fire departments, Indiana State Fire Marshal Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Indiana State Police and Vergon & Associates Fire Investigation all helped in investigation.
====================
AUBURN, Ind. (WANE) A 24-year-old Auburn man has been arrested and charged with a fire that badly damaged the public library in Auburn last week.
Nykolas E. Elkin Nykolas E. Elkin, who was last known to reside at the Super 8 Motel in Auburn, was arrested Thursday evening on felony charges of Possession of a Destructive Device or Explosive with intent and Arson related to the July 2 fire at the Eckhart Public Library.
The Auburn Fire Department was called around 2:30 a.m. that Sunday to the library at 603 S. Jackson St. on a report of a fire. Fire Chief Mike VanZile told NewsChannel 15 that crews arrived to find heavy smoke rising from the building, and fire was found on the first floor of the library.
The flames were quickly extinguished, VanZile said, but the library sustained heavy damage to its first floor and smoke and heat damage to its basement and first floor. Library Director Janelle Graber said books, materials, furnishings and computers all were damaged, and Library Board President Carolyn Foley said the library’s entire collection of DVDs and audio books was lost according to a report from the Associated Press.
Fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, July 2, 2017, at the Eckhart Public Library in Auburn. Two days later, VanZile said the blaze appeared to be an “intentional act fire.” The chief asked for the public’s help to solve the case.
In a news conference Friday, Auburn Police Chief Martin McCoy said a combined investigation by the Auburn Fire Department, the Auburn Police Department, the Indiana State Fire Marshalls Office, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Indiana State Police and Vergon & Associates Fire Investigation found that the fire was started by a firework that had been lit and placed in the book return drop chute at the library’s main entrance.
Tips from the public then led police to Elkin. McCoy did not explain why, but he thanked the public for the help.
“The Auburn Police would also like to thank the Citizens who called and provided the information that eventually led Police to the person responsible for this crime,” said McCoy.