CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- A Chesterfield man says he saw teenagers laughing and running away from a burning van early Saturday morning in Hampton Park.
Now police say what he saw was arson.
The man who sent CBS 6 cell phone video showing flames shooting into the air said when he saw the teens running, he knew something was wrong.
"Kids running around doing stuff like that, there's no telling what they could do next," said Daniel Ivey who lives in the Sterling Glen Apartments. Many of his neighbors agree: the fire was no laughing matter.
"I mean, it could've easily spread," said Ivey.
There are burn marks visible in the wooded area and that rise about 25 feet high in the pine trees. What worries neighbors most that live on Southwind Drive is they say it could've easily spread to the apartments behind or woods.
The van had been parked in an area that is used for overflow parking.
Police now need information to generate suspects.
Ivey says he plans on having a conversation with his son and step-son to see if they know anything about the fire, including who may have started it.
"I'd like to know if they heard anything in their circle,” he said. “You just don't want kids running around doing this sort of thing."
Police say the van was not stolen, so it's likely someone parked it there as overflow parking from the apartment complex.
Police ask anyone with information to contact the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660.
