Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 15, 1991 TAG: 9102150279
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Nelson, 18, was charged Thursday with setting fire to a storage building outside a Carroll County church - then making his getaway on a stolen riding lawn mower.
Carroll County Sheriff's Investigator Steve Williams said authorities had plenty of reasons to be suspicious when they were called to Oakland United Methodist Church about 1:30 a.m.
The fire had burned the outbuilding to the ground, although there was no electricity hooked to the building and rain was pouring down.
"There was no reason for it to burn," Williams said.
Richard Gregory, the church's pastor, then noticed something else unusual.
" `There's supposed to be another lawn mower in there,' " Williams quoted him as saying.
About that time, Nelson called the Galax Police Department to report finding a strange lawn mower in his yard, which was about a quarter-mile behind the church through some woods.
Williams and the pastor got into a patrol car and rode over to the site. Gregory identified the lawn mower - which was stuck after toppling over a bank - as the one belonging to the church.
Nelson at first told authorities he was mystified how the stolen lawn mower had gotten there.
" `I was asleep and my dogs started barking,' " Williams quoted him as saying. " `I just came out here and there it was.' "
Williams said Nelson later admitted taking the mower and setting the fire after having too much to drink.
by CNB