FOOTBALL

Molotov cocktail lit at LaSalle-Peru school’s Howard Fellows Stadium

Dave Eminian
deminian@pjstar.com
Howard Fellows Stadium and its new artificial turf at LaSalle-Peru High School.

PEORIA — Maybe it was intended as a prank, or maybe it was some sort of message being sent.

But what happened at Howard Fellows Stadium in LaSalle-Peru was no laughing matter on Saturday morning.

Police arrived at the stadium around 5:30 a.m. Saturday and discovered a lit homemade Molotov cocktail on a section of the newly installed artificial turf at the stadium. The fire was extinguished, and it was determined a small section of the turf was damaged.

A reward of $1,000 is being offered to anyone providing information that leads to the identification of the offender(s). L-P superintendent Dr. Steven Wrobleski and his wife, Kristin, along with Peru Mayor Scott Harl and his wife, Barb, are donating their own private funds to pay for the reward.

"I am sad and angry that someone or some individuals would think this criminal act funny," Wrobleski said in a prepared statement Saturday afternoon. "This type of behavior has no place in our community. I am hopeful those involved will be identified and held accountable for their actions."

Peru mayor Harl added: "Howard Fellows Stadium is truly a gem of the Illinois Valley and one that makes all of us in the LPHS community proud. I hope this reward offer can help bring the investigation to a successful resolution."

Peru police and LaSalle-Peru Township High School officials are seeking information related to criminal damage to the school's football stadium.

The incident is under investigation by Peru Police and anyone with information can call detectives at (815) 223-2151 (ext. 7) or the department's anonymous tip line at (815) 223-1432.

Callers making anonymous reports will receive a tip number, so they can follow-up anonymously to determine if the information they provided qualified for the reward.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.