Wrong Vehicle Set on Fire in West Virginia

April 14, 2006
Police said the car didn't belong to the man targeted.

A Weirton man is in jail after police said he intentionally set a vehicle on fire.

But it turns out the car which was destroyed didn't belong to the intended target.

James Clark Jr., 37, of Weirton, was arrested Friday on arson charges.

Police said Clark intended to set neighbor Dustin Sager's vehicle on fire after the two men were in an altercation.

"It turns out the car didn't even belong to Dustin Sager, but rather a relative," said Weirton Police Capt. Vince Gala.

The two men both live in an apartment building in the 1300 block of Pennsylvania Ave. Sager told police that Clark knocked on his door and wanted to talk. Sager alleges that Clark made racist remarks, then Sager struck Clark.

Police said, in retaliation for the punch, Clark set the car he thought belonged to Sager on fire.

Gala said Clark did admit that he started the blaze by lighting the undercoating of the vehicle.

The car is valued at $4,000 and is a complete loss.

-Renee Cardelli & Dino Orsatti, NEWS9

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