In Calcasieu Parish, the Multi Agency Resource Center, known as the MARC, caught fire this morning around 5:00 a.m. Officials say the fire caused structural damage to the southeast corner of the building at the Juvenile Justice Office on E. Prien Lake Road. No one was inside the facility at the time of the incident.
Officers say a vehicle physically struck the M.A.R.C. building and caused what was classified as minimal impact damage to the structure and the vehicle. Officers did however observe that there appeared to be fire and smoke coming from both the vehicle and the building. The Lake Charles Fire department had been contacted as well and once they arrived on the scene the fire was extinguished.
Further investigation revealed that the vehicle in question had been stolen from 2760 Power Center Parkway sometime during the night and that another vehicle had been burglarized at the same location. This incident is still under investigation by the Lake Charles Police Department Detective Division.
Services normally offered at the MARC have been temporarily re-located next door to the Office of Juvenile Justice Training Center, and are currently resuming their normal schedule at this time. The MARC's phone number has remained the same, and can be reached at (337)721-3971.
Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is asked to contact Lt. Kevin Kirkum, with the Lake Charles Police Department at (337) 491-1456.