Juveniles Reportedly Lit Van on Fire at Providence Rec Center - Youth Football Equipment Destroyed

Juveniles Reportedly Lit Van on Fire at Providence Rec Center - Youth Football Equipment Destroyed

Providence police are investigating a van fire in the city on Wednesday that resulted in the destruction of dozens of youth football helmets and pads. 

About Incident 

Police were alerted shortly after 1 PM on Wednesday that a van had been set on fire by four juveniles at the West End Community Center on Bucklin Street. 

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According to witnesses, the juveniles were seen inside the van by rec center staff and ordered to get out, at which time a fire erupted and the van was engulfed in flames. 

Witnesses were able to provide descriptions of all four suspects; police apprehended two of the suspects in the neighborhood a short while later. 

Police said they were in touch with a coach from the West End Intruders youth football team, who owns the van.

The coach told police dozens of football helmets, shoulder pads, and jerseys had been inside — and were destroyed in the fire.

Detectives are currently investigating.