Centralia Police have placed a timeline together of the alleged actions of 59-year-old Gerald Moon of West Allmon Street in Salem on Saturday morning that led to his arrest on five felony charges including arson, two counts of burglary and two counts of criminal damage to property.
Police say Moon began his alleged crime spree by failing to gain entry to the Irvin Macz Funeral Home although he did make it to the roof the business. He then is believed to have moved to the nearby Maxton Risado Funeral Home where he successfully broke in the front door, caused some damage as he moved to the second floor where he is believed to have broke out a window and caused a small fire on the outside wall before going to the roof. A witness told police say they saw Moon trying to rip down a power line in the area the fire began.
Police say he is then believed to have then moved to the former Bell Tower Inn where he was unsuccessful in gaining entry. Moon then broke the glass in a front door window with a metal pipe to gain entry to Land of Lincoln Credit Union where he called 911 from inside the lobby and was arrested.
Moon was released from the Marion County Jail on pre-trial conditions on Tuesday during his first court appearance because the burglary and criminal damage charges are non-detainable under the Safety Act and prosecutors indicated the arson charge may not stand because the fire appears to be accidental.
A public defender was appointed to represent Moon who is due back in court July 1st for a preliminary hearing.
