Courthouse Museum monument hit by arsonist. Merced Police officer saw crime unfold

A man accused of setting fire to a monument in Merced has been arrested, according to authorities.

Merced County Sheriff’s deputies responded Sunday afternoon to the Merced County Courthouse Museum for a report of an arson, according to a sheriff’s news release. When deputies arrived on scene, they found that a Merced police officer had detained the suspect, identified as 59-year-old Bennie Tusing.

According to authorities, the officer caught Tusing in the act of setting fire to a monument near the steps of the museum. Tusing placed shirts on the monument and lit them on fire, resulting in damage to the monument.

Tusing was booked into Merced County Jail on suspicion of felony arson of property and vandalism, according to jail records.