Newswire

Women's Center Fire Set Deliberately

Women's Center Fire Set Deliberately

Quad-Cities Online

The driver of a car that that crashed into the lobby of the Edgerton Women's Health Center in Davenport early Monday morning poured gasoline in the interior of the car and set it on fire after the crash, according to an affadavit filed in Scott County District Court.

David Robert McMenemy, 45, of Rochester Hills, Mich., made his initial court appearance this morning on charges of second degree arson. He was returned to the Scott County jail pending further court action.

"An individual drove a car through the front double doors ... proceeded through the second set of doors and parked their car right smack in the middle of the waiting room," said Tom Fedje, president of the Edgerton Women's Health Center.

He added that Monday's incident is the most shocking he's seen in his 33 years at the center.

Davenport firefighters were sent to the health center, 1510 E. Rusholme St., at 4:31 a.m., after early detection devices in the building alerted emergency dispatchers of the fire.

Chief Mark Freese, of the Davenport Fire Department, said the incident still is under investigation.

"Until we actually understand what this guy's motive was to drive through the door in the first place, everything up to this point is speculation," he said.

Mr. Fedje also said it appears the car was driven into the building intentionally.

He said he speculates that the driver's beliefs led him to damage the building. The health center does not do abortions and does not get involved in making referals to abortion clinics, Mr. Fedje said. The center has a large obstetrical program and has delivered more than 17,000 babies at Genesis Medical Center.

"The first company in reported heavy smoke and fire in the lobby of the Edgerton Center," said Chief Freese. "They weren't even sure there was car in there because there was so much smoke."

The car was a 2004 Saturn with Michigan license plates.

No one was injured in the accident, or in the fire. Firefighters said Monday they didn't believe the driver had any injuries.

The man was still on the scene when firefighters arrived, Chief Freese said. He had exited the building and said he wanted to talk to someone.

The first floor of the two-story building has smoke and water damage and the second floor has some smoke damage, Chief Freese said.

"The whole building smells smoky," Mr. Fedje said. "The first floor sustained major damage in the waiting room. You're not just talking about carpet and chairs. You're talking about a significant loss."

The 25-foot counter where patients register also was damaged and Mr. Fedje said he hadn't yet spoken to engineers to find out if the building was structurally damaged.

"The building is only three years old. It's a beautiful building," he said. "We're very proud of it. I have a hard time understanding why a person would do these sorts of things."

The Women Infant Children program, a government-run program that provides nutritious foods for low-income women, infants and children, is run out of the health center. About 4,300 Scott County WIC clients receive checks for food products each month. They can continue to receive those at the Friendly House, at 1221 Myrtle St. in Davenport.

"Who can be against pregnancy care? Who can be against WIC care?" Mr. Fedje asked.

Edgerton leases the building from Genesis Medical Center, and Mr. Fedje said he is working with Genesis to find clinical space while the building is repaired.

"Our intent is that there be no interruption of patients being seen," he said. "It won't be easy but we have a tough staff here. My hope is that we can bounce back from this and still continue to see patients. Genesis has just been wonderful to partner with."

Calls to the clinic were being rerouted Monday to administrative offices in Medical Office Building 1, Suite 108, said Ken Croken, Genesis' vice president for corporate communications.

It was likely that patients would be seen in different clinical locations every day this week, Mr. Croken said.

Mr. Fedje said he hoped WIC services would be up and running in the building again next week, because the program's offices are on the second floor. Reopening the first floor may take longer, but he doesn't know yet how long because the damage assessment isn't complete.


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Posted by Editor at September 13, 2006 01:56 PM