Rusk County officials to meet with concerned church leaders

***NEWS RELEASE***

Due to the rash of ongoing church arsons, Sheriff Danny R. Pirtle, is asking everyone in the Rusk County area to be aware of any suspicious activity in or around churches in Rusk County.

Ongoing arson investigations being conducted have led Sheriff Pirtle to believe that churches in the Rusk County area may have at one point been targeted for arson. Sheriff Pirtle asks that if anyone observes suspicious activity that they call the Sheriff’s Office or Police Department.

Due to the large number of churches and the available resources in Rusk County a community effort is needed to safeguard our churches.

Sheriff Pirtle would also like to invite any concerned church officials to meet with him at the Sheriff’s office on Thursday, February 11, 2010, at 9:00 am. At that time safety concerns and possible safety measures can be discussed.

If you would like to attend Thursday’s meeting, please call the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office at (903)657-3581 to confirm your attendance. The Sheriff’s office is located at 212 Van Buren in Henderson. A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the subject(s) in these cases.