A Davenport man has been arrested in connection with the burning of a traffic speed trailer. Police say 27-year-old Craig Peterson poured flammable liquid on a speed trailer parked in the 2600 block of West 68th St.
Petersen is charged with second-degree arson.
"There's no reason to damage these things because they're nothing but a plus for safety," said Davenport Police Captain Dave Struckman. "They're not recording speeding as far as to issue tickets for a violation so, what's the purpose of damaging something like this?"
The only reason why the speed trailer was there in the first place is because neighbors requested it. Specifically, a neighbor who runs a daycare out of her home.
"It's really out there for our good and the safety of our kids," said mom and daycare provider Christina Lester.
On any given day, there are several children playing outside of Lester's home. And she would like for the streets surrounding her house to be safe.
"It's 25 miles an hour and they go down here 35 plus all the time."
So, Christina asked the police department to put a speed trailer on her street.
"Myself and my neighbor are the ones who got it put out here, for the safety of the kids," Lester said.
The speed trailer was doing its job -- slowing down drivers and recording the speeds of everyone who passed the house. Until someone set it on fire.
"I just think of what could have happened," Lester said.
"Could he have caught the tree on fire because of the dry conditions. A car being parked just a couple feet away from it. What could have happened to our neighborhood if it would have gone up in flames like big time?"
Capt. Struckman said one speed trailer costs roughly $7,000. That money comes from Davenport taxpayers.
"It's a shame for people like myself that wanted it out here for the safety of our children." Lester said. "And now it's going to have to come out of our own pockets for it, because somebody wanted to do childish things, and start something on fire."
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