ECU Police arrest man for setting police SUV on fire

On Tuesday, July 27, East Carolina University Police arrested 19-year-old Fernando Daniel Laurens and charged him with resist, delay and obstructing a police officer and three counts of felony arson to personal property. Laurens’ last address was in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He is not a student at ECU.

About 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, officers received a call regarding an ECU police SUV on fire at 1206 Charles Blvd., an ECU property located off campus. Greenville Fire/Rescue arrived quickly and extinguished the fire that damaged the rear of the vehicle. Officers were quickly able to get a suspect description from camera footage in the area. An ECU patrol sergeant located the suspect on 10th Street near S. Founders Drive. After attempting to flee from the officer, Laurens was apprehended. He was arrested under a $50,000 secured bond. There was no immediate or ongoing threat to campus. The motive is unknown at this time.

The Greenville Police Department is assisting with the investigation and the State Bureau of Investigation was called to process the crime scene.

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East Carolina University News Services
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Greenville, N.C. 27858
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Phone: 252-328-6481
https://news.ecu.edu

Contact: ECU News Services, ecunews@ecu.edu