Rison Police Office Burns After Break-In, Theft

Authorities are looking for a thief and an arsonist who broke into the Rison Police Department and set it on fire after taking several items. Cleveland County sheriff’s Dept. Capt. Gary Young said the fire was reported by a newspaper carrier at about 3 a.m. Monday. Young said the police department side of Rison City Hall sustained severe structural damage and that the city administration side suffered smoke damage. Young said police records were destroyed but that shouldn’t interfere with any prosecutions. He said prosecutors have their own copies of the records.