Police Incident Reports A Selection of Noteworthy Incident Reports

Incidents listed are selected by the Officer In Charge of each shift that may have significant public interest. Incidents listed are not inclusive of all incidents. To view Calls for Services information, please visit communitycrimemap.com. Requests for information can be directed to the MPD Records Unit: (608) 266-4075.

Incident Report for Case #2020-348836

Incident Type

Arrested Person

Incident Date

09/18/2020 - 12:55 PM

Address

614 E. Gorham St (James Madison Park shelter)

Arrested

Kerry M Meighan, m/w, 49 years old
Charges-1) Arson of Buildings- WI stat 943.02
2) Arson of Property other than Building- WI stat 943.03
3) Lacrosse County warrants

Victim(s)

#1- 36 yr old f/w
#2- 36 yr old f/w
#3- 31 yr old m/w

Details

The victims are homeless and spent the morning setting up a tent they had just received next to the James Madison Park shelter. Kerry Meighan showed up to the park in the morning and sat on a bench nearby while the victims were setting things up and arranging their belongings. They left around noon while Meighan remained on the bench. Less than an hour later Meighan walked over to the tent and leaned into it for a few seconds before going into the restroom, then returning to the tent briefly before walking away. Less than a minute later the tent and everything in it went up in flames, which also started the park shelter on fire and caused significant damage to it. Meighan was identified as a suspect and eventually arrested and taken to the PSB.

Released 09/18/2020 at 6:46 PM by Lt. John Radovan