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Police: Teens Torched 14 Cars, 1 House In 2 Hours

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TBO Staff

Published: February 1, 2009

Updated: 02/01/2009 12:27 pm

Francis Huy Du

MathewKiernan

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St. Petersburg police arrested two 16-year-old boys today on arson charges in connection with a string of 14 cars and a house set ablaze over a two-hour span early this morning.

The St. Petersburg Police Department said Mathew Kiernan and Francis Huy Du, both of St. Petersburg, were charged with four felony counts each of arson. Other charges may come, police said.

Police said the two bought IBC Root Beer and Orange Crush soda bottles because they were on sale and filled them with gasoline to make Molotov cocktails that they used to start the fires.

Investigators discovered some of the devices that failed to ignite.

The fires were random and no other motive was involved, police said.

The first car fire was reported at 4:26 a.m., the St. Petersburg Police Department said. The last was called in at 5:59 a.m.

The final call was at 6:22 a.m. when a house at 2845 14th St. N. was set on fire.
Witnesses reported seeing a dark sedan leaving one scene, police said.

Investigators are also checking if Kiernan and Du may be involved in other arsons.

This is a list of the locations and times:
4:26 a.m. 4419 11th Ave. N.
4:35 a.m. 217 38th St. N.
4:39 a.m. Fairfield Avenue South and 30th Street S.
4:51 a.m. 1619 20th Ave. S.
4:52 a.m. 2222 11th St. S.
5:05 a.m. 2534 22nd St. S.
5:28 a.m. 2015 29th St. S.
5:31 a.m. 510 28th Ave. N.
5:34 a.m. 1680 25th Ave. N.
5:44 a.m. 2124 14th St. N.
5:48 a.m. 1620 21st Ave. N.
5:48 a.m. 931 12th St. N.
5:55 a.m. 1100 11th St. N.
5:59 a.m.54424th Ave. N.

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