Arson at Hope community center under investigation

— Authorities in Hope are investigating after someone broke into a community center in town and set a fire.

It happened shortly before 2 a.m. at the North-side Community Center, 1709 N. Spruce St.

According to a statement from police Chief JR Wilson, the arsonist threw a rock through a side glass door, forced entry to a locked office area and set the fire.

Wilson said the responding officer estimated the fire caused about $50,000 in damage, with most of it restricted to two offices in the front of the building.

According to his statement, a television was also removed from the center and placed behind an adjacent building, where it was recovered by investigators.

Wilson said the motive isn't clear.

Police are asking anyone with additional information about what happened to contact them.

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