St. Louis man accused of setting car on fire at Perryville lake | News

PERRYVILLE, MO (KFVS) - A St. Louis man was arrested recently after police say he set fire to a Chevy Monte Carlo at the Perry County Community Lake on August 3.

Federico Hurtado-Melgarejo, 29, was charged with knowingly burning, forgery (forged international license) and fugitive warrant possession of a controlled substance.

On Aug. 3 at about 11:45 p.m. Perryville police officers responded to a vehicle fire at the Perry County Community Lake near the boat ramp off of PCR 702. The Perryville Fire Department was also called to the scene. After the fire was contained, police say they were able to identify the vehicle as a Chevy Monte Carlo SS, and that it was registered out of St. Louis.

According to the police department, while an officer was responding to the scene, he found a subject in a ditch off of Lake Drive. The subject was identified as Federico Hurtado-Melgarejo. Police say while they investigated his statement, they found two more Hispanic males parked on the Walmart parking lot. Police say the vehicle they were driving was also registered to Hurtado.

When they talked to the two other males, they learned that Hurtado drove the Monte Carlo to Perry County Community Lake where he set the vehicle on fire. Hurtado told the other two men with him to wait at Walmart until he returned.

Police say all three men were taken into custody at the scene and were taken to the Perryville Police Department. They say the other two men were released without charges being filed.

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