By LEAH WANKUM
Managing Editor

(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) — University police are fingerprinting individuals in connection to an arson that occurred in Martin Building before Thanksgiving break last semester.

Detective Gary Schmidt with the UCM Department of Public Safety said fingerprints were the only concrete evidence found at the crime scene.

“There were some faculty who were in the area at the time,” Schmidt said. “I don’t know where they were assigned. Just a couple people we knew were in the area. Maybe some students, I’d have to go back and look. There were custodians and some faculty, and I think there were a couple students also fingerprinted.”

A fire appeared to have been deliberately set in a trashcan at approximately 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, in the men’s restroom on the second floor of the Mar¬tin Building, according to a Public Safety press release. Smoke damage was minimal, and writing was discovered on the restroom mir¬ror.

University police are investigating the incident as a hate crime because of the nature of the writing on the restroom mirror.

“I can tell you though, when you say you’re investigating something as a possible hate crime, it doesn’t mean it is a hate crime,” said Captain Bill Brinkley with Public Safety.

Schmidt said people who were in the area at the time of the incident were fingerprinted to eliminate possible suspects in the investigation.

Brinkley said fingerprinting is a normal procedure in investigations.

“It’s a pretty common thing, especially in elimination,” Brinkley said. “It’s a great way, old fashioned police way, to solve crimes. It still works.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact UCM Public Safety at 660-543-4123.