By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE — An investigation is underway to find the person who tried to burn down the Acuri Center Courthouse, located on Cambridge Drive in LaPlace, Wednesday morning.

Arson Supervisor Donald Carter with the Louisiana State Fire Marshall’s Office confirmed the fire was caused by arson.

&#8220We have the evidence to prove this was arson, because of how the person went about trying to burn down the courthouse,” he said.

&#8220We do have a surveillance tape that we are reviewing at this time,” Carter added.

Carter said the arson took place around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, when the person broke one of the courthouse glass doors in the front.

The person then went into the courtroom and proceeded by starting a fire by the judge’s chair and desk. He then left by way of the back door.

The St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office was contacted around 8 a.m. after one of the employees came to work and noticed the front door was shattered.

Carter said the investigation is still ongoing and he will give specifics about the tape and how the fire was started at a later date.