3 suspicious fires probed on Cabrini campus
RADNOR » Police are investigating a report of three suspicious fires in two bathrooms at East Residence Hall on the campus of Cabrini University in Radnor this week. No injuries were reported.
According to police, detectives responded to the university after receiving an email about the incidents Thursday morning.
“What we learned is that there were three fires that occurred,” said Deputy Supt. Chris Flanagan. The fires were discovered between Wednesday, Dec. 13, and Thursday, Dec. 14.
Police called in fire investigators from Delaware County, the fire marshal and then spent much of the day on Thursday interviewing students living in the dorms. They were continuing to comb through the information and evidence Friday.
“We’re not sure if they were set intentionally, accidentally – it is certainly very suspicious,” Flanagan said Friday morning.
The fires were not the only activity that has taken place in the same area.
In September, a resident living in the same dorm building reported finding a racial slur written on her dorm room door. In that incident, police and campus public safety were notified about the incident after the news media had already been contacted. In that case, the student reported finding the words “Go away n….”
No one has yet been arrested in the incident.
On Dec. 8 Cabrini posted a message on its website regarding the September incident.
“The investigation into the incident on Sept. 16 remains active and ongoing. While the University has offered a $5,000 reward for leads that result in an arrest and conviction, the Radnor Police Department has not received any new information that provided enough evidence and certainty for an arrest,” the message read in part.
Police say there is nothing to suggest that the fires and the racial slur are related.
According to Flanagan, if the fires are determined to have been intentionally set, a suspect could face serious felony charges including arson and risking a catastrophe.
Cabrini officials Friday issued the following statement:
“We are working with Radnor Police Department to investigate. As authorities conduct interviews and collect evidence, we have posted a Cabrini public safety officer in the residence hall as our students prepare for winter break.”