4/6/2007
Burleson PD Arrest 3 For Attempted Church Arson
BURLESON -- Three Burleson teenagers are facing felony charges after allegedly trying to burn down a local church.

The incident took place on Wednesday night at the Victory Family Church. Officers were responding to a report of four people involved in suspicious activity. When police arrived, they found an explosive device near the church building.

Police arrested 19-year-old Dayton Lee Calaway and 18-year-old Michael Philip Plaisted Jr. at the scene. They had been detained by a church deacon after getting stuck in mud during an escape attempt.

Two other suspects, 18-year-old Jered Michael Ragon and a juvenile, reportedly fled the scene in a vehicle. According to officials, Ragon later started a fire in a nearby field while trying to destroy evidence of the crime. He was arrested on Thursday afternoon. The juvenile will not be charged after the three teens cleared him of involvement.

The Burleson Police Department is now calling this a domestic terrorist incident after the teens admitted to trying to destroy the church with an explosive device and claimed affiliation with the Radical Christian Activists, a group which targets government and organized religion.

The suspects said that this failed attempt was a test for the future and a message for the community.

Commander Chris Haven of the Burleson Police Department said, "The three suspects share common beliefs about the demise of society. The detective said the group believes that society has become too focused on self improvement and self gratification and has lost focus on the glorification of God."

If convicted the three teens could face 99 years in prison.