Roma man charged for allegedly setting Arthur St church on fire

Weeks after the church on Arthur St, Roma suspiciously burnt down, police have arrested alleged offender and pressed charges.

What's left of the old church on 65 Arthur St, Roma which caught fire in the early hours of Wednesday morning, July 27 2023. Picture: Supplied.

Roma police confirmed investigations into the suspicious fire which burnt down an old church last month have uncovered the person allegedly responsible.

A 39-year-old Roma man has been charged with arson after the church, which had been used for storage purposes, on Arthur St, Roma was engulfed by a giant blaze in the early hours of the morning on July 27.

Fire crews spent three hours battling to contain the flames.

This was the second historical building in the town to suspiciously burn down this year, with investigations into the Romavilla Winery fire still ongoing.

Roma police officer-in-charge Duane Frank confirmed the man being charged after a comprehensive review of CCTV footage from nearby businesses, extensive forensic analysis and witness accounts.

Police executed a search warrant on Tuesday August 14 at a Roma address where they located the alleged offender and “certain items of interest”.

He was also charged with one unrelated stealing offence.

The Roma man is due to appear in Roma Magistrates Court on August 29.

Originally published as Roma man charged for allegedly setting Arthur St church on fire