Powers was taken into custody Monday and is being held in the Jackson County Jail. Authorities are patrolling dormitories at the Bloomington Campus after a string of arson fires. Three fires were set at Magee Dorm in the Foster Quad. Two were set in trashcans and one on a bulletin board. No one has been hurt but students fear the arsonist will strike again.
Police say they are looking at suspects in the case.
Investigators say electrical problems caused the fire in the home owned by Goldie Scheible. The family lost everything in the fire. The clerk says two white males entered the store and handcuffed and taped his hands and feet before taking off with the stores safe and cash drawer. It took the clerk 15 minutes to free himself and call police. One of the suspects displayed a blue-steel automatic handgun.