CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — A 33-year-old Champaign man has been arrested in connection with a fire that caused thousands of dollars in damage to a church on the city’s northwest side earlier this month.
At 12:28 p.m. on November 19, personnel from the Champaign Police and Fire Departments responded to a report of a structure fire at a church in the 1600 block of Bloomington Road. When crews arrived, they found moderate smoke pouring from the roof eaves and upper windows of the sanctuary.
As firefighters advanced into the building, the incident was upgraded to a two-alarm fire. Multiple hose lines were deployed, and crews from both the Champaign and Urbana Fire Departments worked to contain and extinguish the blaze.
Investigators from both departments began examining the scene to determine the cause of the fire. While officials say the exact ignition circumstances remain under investigation, evidence developed over the following days led detectives to identify and interview a suspect.
On November 27, police arrested Dalton Whitlock, 33, of Champaign, on initial charges of Arson to a Place of Worship.
Despite the arrest, police emphasized that the case remains active. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Champaign Police Department at 217-351-4545. Information may be shared privately upon request.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 217-373-8477 (TIPS), visiting 373tips.com, or using the “P3 Tips” mobile app. Officials note that all Crime Stoppers submissions are routed through a third-party call center, ensuring complete anonymity.
