Crime & Safety

Police: Nazareth Man Set Day Care's Doors on Fire

Craig Werkheiser of 31 E. Chestnut St. is charged with institutional vandalism and related offenses; he was released on $15,000 unsecured bail.

The normally bright red doors of the day care attached to St. John's Lutheran Church in Nazareth are charred today -- the result of an early-morning fire a borough man admitted to setting after a night of heavy drinking.

No injuries were reported.

Craig Werkheiser, 27, of 31 E. Chestnut St. is facing charges of institutional vandalism, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct, according to the Nazareth Borough Police Department.

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He was arraigned before District Judge John Capobianco and released on $15,000 unsecured bail.

The school's doors are on the E. Prospect Street side of the church. A note on the doors said, "Day care and church office are OPEN. Please use door in parking lot to enter. Thank you."

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According to police, the fire also damaged the carpet runner and tile floor inside the church. The damage estimate is about $4,500.

According to the affidavit of probable cause:

Officer Alan Koch and borough fire marshal Edward Statler, responded to the church around 6:30 a.m. after being asked to photograph the scene. Soon after, Police Chief Thomas Trachta arrived.

Trachta was approached by Janet Kichline, of 38 E. Prospect St. -- across the street from the burnt doors. Kichline said she arrived home around 2:55 a.m. and found a small fire burning in her front yard.

Nazareth police believe Werkheiser started the fire just before Kichline arrived home.

Trachta was then approached by an unidentified man who said the officers "should look at Craig Werkheiser." According to the man, he overheard Werkheiser saying bad things about the church at the Towne House, a bar two blocks from the church.

A few months back, according to the man, Werkheiser allegedly urinated on the church doors.

Trachta contacted Werkheiser and asked him to head to the department's headquarters for an interview. Werkheiser admitted that he set the fire after a night of heavy drinking.

Werkheiser told Trachta that he walked to the church, placed paper in the door handles, and used a lighter to set the paper on fire. He then walked home.

Editor's Note: This article has been changed from its original version. The first version said the doors were to Love A Lot Nursery, when that was incorrect. The entrance affected is used by the church's office and day care, which is different than the nursery school. Love A Lot is located on the other side of the church.


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