Man Arrested For Arson Of St. Croix County Elementary School

A 24-year-old man from the Village of Roberts has been arrested in connection with a fire causing more than $1 million in damage to a local school.

Justin Nelson was formally charged in St. Croix County Circuit Court today with arson, criminal damage to property, and burglary.

Law enforcement and fire officials responded early Tuesday morning to a report of fire at the St. Croix Central Elementary School. Later that day it was determined that the fire started under suspicious circumstances and that someone had broken in.

Village of Roberts Police Chief Dan Burgess says residents were shocked when they found out it was arson, but the tragedy only strengthened their resolve.

“We’ve had such a tremendous outpouring of support in the community. It’s absolutely horrible to see things like this happen but the silver lining to the cloud is that it certainly helps to bring people together”

Burgess says word of the arrest has helped the village heal. More than a dozen law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local level assisted in the investigation.

A preliminary hearing in Nelson’s case is set for May 13.