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Police have arrested a Lower Moyamensing man who is allegedly responsible for setting a Packer Park playground on fire.
Kevin Beattie, 26, of the 2400 block of South Camac Street, allegedly called 911 noting he and his friend were witnesses to the crime and saw two white boys flee the area after igniting the flames, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. Upon being interviewed again June 18, the pair stuck to their story, but Beattie eventually is believed to have admitted to detectives that he had accidentally started the blaze.
Beattie, who does not have a prior record, according to court records, was arrested and charged with arson, conspiracy of arson, causing catastrophe, criminal mischief, possession of an instrument of crime and unsworn falsification to authorities Friday. His bail, which had not been posted as of press time, was set at $100,000 Saturday.
Beattie allegedly set fire to the FDR Park playground on the 2000 block of Pattison Avenue at 9:20 p.m. June 17. The fire marshal deemed the cause was an arson due to an open flame put near a flammable material or a kindled fire, Tolliver said.
His friend was not charged criminally.
The City’s capital and the park’s trust funds combined to build the $306,000 play space in the fall, which the Philadelphia Eagles have vowed to rebuild, with $100,000 commitment from 2nd District Councilman Kenyatta Johnson’s activity fund. The Fairmount Park Conservancy and the Philadelphia Fire Department estimated the damage at $325,000.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
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