Detroit fire officials are asking the public for help to find the suspect who set a blaze inside Huntington Place last week.
The incident happened at about 9 a.m. April 28 at the downtown venue, formerly known as Cobo Center, investigators said.
Investigators said security video showed a suspect dressed in black entering the concourse on the first floor, taking water bottles filled with what they believe was gasoline from a bag. He then doused a carpet with their contents, according to authorities.
The man had a black backpack with several white logos on it, and a gray mask on his face.
Authorities said the man walked toward the exit, set a fire, and left the area afterward.
Dennis Richardson, chief of the Detroit Fire Department’s Fire Investigation Division, said the suspect remained at-large and police were working to identify and locate him. He made the remarks on Tuesday during a media briefing at Detroit Public Safety Headquarters.
The chief also said investigators do not believe at this time that the suspect has set any other arsons in the downtown Detroit area. “We do not have any information that suggests this individual has done this before, other than this instance.”
He said the suspect had three water bottles containing what investigators suspect was gasoline. Richardson said samples of the carpet have been sent to the crime lab for analysis, and they should have results in two to three weeks.
Officials said Huntington Place security officers immediately responded and extinguished the fire, which caused minimal damage. No one was hurt, according to authorities.
Richardson said damage from the fire was isolated to the carpet. “The damage was not that severe,” he said. “Any structural damage was very limited if there was any at all.”
A reward will be offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction, officials said.
Anyone with information about the incident or the suspect should call the Detroit Police Department’s Fire Investigation Division at (313) 596-2940. Tips may also be submitted anonymously through the arson tip line at (313) 628-2900 or Crime Stoppers of Michigan at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. They can also be submitted via e-mail at arsontips@detroitmi.gov.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
@CharlesERamirez
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tips sought on suspect in Huntington Place arson
Reporting by Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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