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Police Say 9-Year-Old Set Fire at St. Cloud Elementary School

State law blocks criminal charges for children under 10.

Overview

  • St. Cloud police identified a 9-year-old student as responsible for a bathroom fire at Westwood Elementary School.
  • The St. Cloud Area School District put the damage at about $2 million.
  • Classes shifted to e-learning because smoke and fine particles made the air unsafe inside the building.
  • Police sent the case to the Stearns County Attorney’s Office for review of non-court options allowed under state rules.
  • Minnesota statute keeps children under 10 out of juvenile court, which means any response will focus on alternatives to prosecution.