Witnesses get $5K for solving arson

NILES, Mich. (WOOD) - Some people are being rewarded for helping solve an arson case.

Witnesses assisted the Niles Police Department in tracking down two men accused of crashing a stolen vehicle into a building and purposely setting a fire.

The incident occurred March 14 at the Fraternal Order of Police building, 600 N. State St. in Niles. The fire was determined to be arson and the building sustained a loss of more than $250,000.

Several people provided the Niles Police Department with specific information that led to the arrest and convictions of Kyle Allen Kelley, 19, and Gary Lee Nellans, 25, both of Niles.

At the conclusion of the case, the Niles Police Department submitted a request to the Michigan Arson Prevention Committee, which is a dedicated arson prevention task force, and was awarded $5,000 cash to be paid out to the witnesses.

The Niles Police Department is actively investigating five arsons set in the early part of 2012 and asking anyone with information about these intentionally set house fires to contact the Niles Detective Bureau at 269.683.0404 or use the Niles Police anonymous tip line at www.tipsoft.com.