MUSKEGON, Michigan — After a months-long investigation, police say they've caught the person who set a fire at the still-under-construction Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore that caused up to $7 million in damage.
Authorities charged 22-year-old Bruce Potter with 3rd-degree arson, a felony charge that has a maximum penalty of 10 years, and lying to a police officer, which carries a max of 2 years if convicted.
"It's been a long couple of... months of just wondering who did this? Why? Where they are right now? Or are they possibly going to break in and do it again," Monica Turnbull, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club, questioned following the arrest. "For us to be in temporary locations--we have a waiting list. Youth want to come. We get questions every day from the fitness center. When are we going to open? What does that look like? The community has just been devastated by this setback. To know someone is in custody just gives us a sense of peace."
A sentiment echoed by DJ Hilson, Muskegon County Prosecutor and chairman of the Boys & Girls Club board, in announcing the charges during an interview with 13 OYS Wednesday.
"Now, we have a closure to the element that caused all of that damage," he related. "We have a person that now will be held accountable for that. I think that just really is another step toward continuing to the finish line, so that we can open both sides of this--the Boys & Girls Club side and the fitness side to the community, hopefully sooner rather than later."
During the early hours of Saturday, Aug. 12, police said the suspect set fires inside the facility beginning in the clubhouse and fitness center area.
A $30,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest.
Turnbull spoke to the uncertainty then surrounding the case in an interview with 13 ON YOUR SIDE following the arson.
"We've been trying to rack our brains to understand why someone might do something like this. And it's incredibly devastating and heartbreaking. And I think it would give us some closure and feel like we have some peace in this," she said.
"We're grieving a loss, this was our clubhouse, this was going to be our building for the community and our youth," said Turnbull. "And so it's so devastating for us."
The Boys and Girls Club of the Lakeshore launched a multi-million dollar project to update the property with a climbing wall, a STEM lab, an artist studio, a teen lounge, game rooms, a cafeteria and more.
Work on the clubhouse had been scheduled to be completed by fall 2023, and was set to hold an open house on Thursday, Aug. 24.
However, due to the damage, they're pushing back their reopening celebrations. Officials now expect the repairs and finishing touches to be completed in six months to a year.
The bulk of repairs come from soot and smoke. The 90,000-square-foot building will need all new air handlers for their geo-thermal system.
Clubhouse youth programs are still being held at All Shores Wesleyan. Neal Fitness Center activities will also continue at Kingdom Life Church and the Fresh Coast Alliance Training Facility.
13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke to Muskegon County prosecutor DJ Hilson, who is also president of the board for the Boys and Girls Club, after the arson took place.
"Unfortunately, this incident has delayed our ability as an organization to open this up to the kids and to the community," said Hilson.
But this inconvenience isn't going to stop the organization from reaching its goals.
“You know, certainly if the person's attempt was to try and stop Boys and Girls Club from serving the youth of this community, that is not going to happen," said Hilson. “We'll be working with our contractors and our insurance company to make sure that any damage is taken care of, in that construction will proceed.”
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