A Champaign man has been arrested for his involvement in a fire that caused thousands of dollars in damage to a Champaign church. On November 19, 2025, at 12:28 p.m., personnel with the Champaign Police and Fire Departments were called to a church in the 1600 block of Bloomington Road following a report of a fire. On scene, crews reported moderate smoke coming from the roof eaves and windows near the top of the sanctuary. As firefighters began fighting the fire, this incident was upgraded to a two-alarm fire. Multiple hose lines were extended, and crews from the Champaign and Urbana Fire Departments worked to contain and extinguish this fire.
Investigators from the Champaign Police and Fire Departments worked to determine the cause of the fire. While the exact circumstances of the fire’s ignition are still under investigation, evidence led to the identification and interview of a suspect. Following that interview, on November 27, 2025, detectives arrested Dalton Whitlock, 33, of Champaign, on initial charges of Arson to a Place of Worship.
Even with an arrest, the investigation remains ongoing. Champaign Police ask that anyone who has additional information please call 217-351-4545. Arrangements can be made for information to be shared privately. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may also submit tips to Crime Stoppers by phone at: 217-373-8477 (TIPS); online at 373tips.com; or the “P3 Tips” mobile app.
Citizens are reminded that information submitted to Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous. Calls are routed to a third-party national call center that receives your information, completes a tips information form, and then passes the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Caller ID tracking is not utilized by Crime Stoppers and conversations are not recorded.
Future updates may be provided as they become available. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.