Former Jackson man charged two weeks ago yet to be arrested

A volunteer firefighter charged more than two weeks ago with intentionally setting fire to a Fruitland home has yet to be arrested, authorities confirmed Thursday.

Christopher L. Bruce was charged with first-degree arson Dec. 5. He was the second man accused of intentionally setting fire to a Fruitland-area home while a resident slept inside. The occupant got out safely.

Cape Girardeau County deputies who went to take him into custody learned that he had moved to Southern Illinois, said Sgt. Eric Friedrich of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

Bruce is living with his mother and has a job there, Friedrich said. Local deputies have no authority to make arrests in Illinois, which essentially puts the case here on hold, he said.

Authorities across the river have been notified, he said, noting the only realistic thing to do is to wait for Bruce to get stopped on an unrelated offense.

"We're at the mercy of another state," Friedrich said.

The first charges in the case were filed against Gordon Schafer, who recently pleaded guilty to second-degree arson. In exchange for Schafer's guilty plea, he agreed to testify against Bruce.

Bruce and Schafer were volunteer firefighters with the Fruitland Area Fire Protection District at the time of the fire.

Pertinent address:

Fruitland, Mo.