Man arrested in overnight arson case
Posted By: Sarah Fili
sfili@klkntv.com
An arrest is made in a Lincoln arson case at the Shamrock Mobile Home Park, but the latest twist is that Channel 8 interviewed the man after an earlier arson in the area.
"It's scary, this is the second trailer fire in a matter of weeks,” Austin Oreskovich said.
That quote is from 19-year-old Austin Oreskovich a day after a fire at a Teresa street trailer park last month. Late Monday night he was arrested for arson after police say he called 911 about a recliner fire next to a mobile home.
"Last night at 10:51 p.m., officers were dispatched to 2545 Theresa on yet another fire,” Officer Katie Flood, Lincoln Police, said.
When officers got there, they say Oreskovich blamed the arson on another resident in the park, but investigators found that person had never left her mobile home the entire night. Witnesses say Oreskovich was the only one around the recliner before the fire was started and when police searched him they say they found a lighter in his pocket.
This isn't Oreskovich's first arrest for arson. He spent 360 days in jail for starting a fire near 52nd and Aylesworth.
"Back in 2013, a neighbors home was recently vacated, they had moved out, however a door was left unlocked, we believe that he entered the basement of that home and started a fire," Office Flood said.
This trailer park has seen four arsons in just a month. Two trailers in the park are a total loss. A garbage can and recliner were also used to start fires. When we spoke to Austin last month, he denied responsibility saying the owner of the trailer started the blaze.
"She wished the trailer burned down, so she'd have no more worries about the trailer and i really didn't pay any mind to it because I didn't think she would be this crazy,” Oreskovich said.
He said he felt unsafe in the area and was looking to move after only living there a month.
Officer Katie Flood says some arsonists set fires because they want to be the hero, saving pets and people inside, but that isn't always the case.
"We have arrested arsonists that are motivated by the activity surrounding a fire, maybe the fire department coming, police officers, the subsequent investigation.,” Office Flood said.
Police aren't sure what Oreskovich's motivation was and police have not confirmed if he is connected to any other arson's in the area, but they are investigating.
