A 17-year-old Norwalk boy turned himself in Monday afternoon for the Norwalk H.S. fire that destroyed nearly half a million dollars worth of the school band?s equipment.

Mayor Dick Moccia and other Norwalk officials said a lack of parental guidance is to blame. At a news conference Tuesday, the officials spoke about the youth who turned himself in for the crime and how they solved it.

The mayor, fire marshal, police chief, fire chief and other officials said it took a group effort to solve the case. Members of the arson task force explained that dogs sniffed out some sort of accelerant that caused the fire.

Officials said everyone pulled together to get through the incident, but it has become apparent that parental guidance is lacking in the community.

The mayor said during the news conference that the incident brought the community together in a way he?s never seen, but then went on to say that he is bothered by the amount of teenagers roaming the streets at night. He said cell phones do not replace parental discipline.

Officials said the teen is remorseful and cooperating. He was charged with arson in the third degree, and has been released to his parents on a $5,000 bond. Police said the youth had no motive and nothing against the band, just too much time on his hands..

Related Information: