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Thursday, March 19, 2009

Church, pastor's car searched in arson probe

Officials investigating last week's arson at a Vinton church seized matches, a receipt for gasoline, financial information, gas cans and more during a search of the church and the pastor's car, according to a court document.

The March 10 fire in the 600 block of Vale Avenue caused an estimated $100,000 in damage, fire officials said.

A search warrant return filed in Roanoke County Circuit Court lists more than 50 items investigators collected at New Beginning Baptist Church and from a green Ford Taurus belonging to Tony St. Clair, the church's pastor.

Also seized were newspapers with matches, cigarette butts, a man's wallet, a cloth wick and a glove, according to the document.

The search warrant says that St. Clair was found lying injured outside the church and smelled strongly of gasoline. He was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

No one has been charged in the fire and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is still investigating.

-- Amanda Codispoti

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