Published: September 04, 2008 01:37 pm         

Police arrest man in boat arson

Canal boat in Delphi valued at $30,000

DELPHI — Police arrested a Delphi man in connection with the canal boat fire at the Wabash Erie Canal Interpretive Center.

The fire, which police are calling intentional, occurred Sunday and severely damaged the hands-on exhibit for children. After a joint investigation by the Delphi Police Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Delphi Fire Department, Indiana State Fire Marshall and Indiana State Police, authorities arrested 62-year-old Larry E. Farner on Wednesday and charged him with arson, a class B felony.

The fire happened about 6 a.m. Sunday at Canal Park, destroying more than half of the 72-foot-long replica of a 19th century canal boat that volunteers had worked on since February. The boat, which is stationed on land and not intended for floating, was valued at around $30,000.

According to an investigation by Paul Vondrasek, a patrolman with the Delphi police, a witness said that Farner had held a grudge against the canal for years. Vondrasek would not elaborate on a possible motive.

State police apprehended Farner in Lafayette. Vondrasek said police were able to find Farner through talking to witnesses. He declined to provide more details on the arrest.

Vondrasek said besides taking clean-up statements from a few witnesses, he has pretty much concluded the investigation. If anyone has information about the boat fire, the Delphi officer would still like to hear from them.

Wednesday’s arrest is not Farner’s first encounter with law enforcement. In 2003, he led Carroll County authorities on an 11-mile pursuit that ended with Farner ramming two police squad cars in a Chevrolet Corvette that he had reportedly been driving on the golf course at the Carroll County Country Club.

Farner was charged in that case with intimidation, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and resisting law enforcement. He was sentenced to 180 days on in-home detention and five and half years on probation.

Currently, Farner is held in the Carroll County Jail on a $50,000 bond. Police say additional charges on unrelated incidents are pending.

Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com



Have a tip?

Police would still like to speak to anyone with information regarding the canal boat fire. Call the Delphi Police Department at (765) 564-2345.