Police arrest North Branch arson suspect
A northern Minnesota man is being held at the Chisago County jail on suspicion of second degree arson, KARE 11 reports. North Branch police arrested the 21-year-old in connection with an arson fire that nearly destroyed the North Branch Veterinary Hospital earlier this month.
Five dogs and a cat were rescued from the vet clinic after it was intentionally set on fire on Nov. 4. Sgt. Rick Sapp said the North Branch Police Department has been dealing with “five to 10 various fires with similar circumstances since May,” which have escalated from “dumpster fires to structure fires.”
Officials in St. Cloud have ruled a fire at a business in St. Cloud Sunday night was arson, the St. Cloud Times reports. The blaze caused about $30,000 in damage to Tom's Windshield Repair. Investigators are offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information.
Shakopee fire investigators also suspect a fire and explosion that gutted a wine shop in the city early Friday morning was arson.