Authorities have determined that a fire which destroyed a venerable convenience store in Blaine last month was the work of arsonists. Now they are trying to determine whether to classify the fire at the Blaine Dairy as a hate crime.
"We have evidence that indicates that it's possible that is the case," said Capt. Kerry Fenner of the Blaine Police Department.
On Jan. 27, three men carrying a paper bag and glass bottles entered the store at 385 109th Av. NE. around 8:30 p.m. They lit the bottles and threw them inside the store, which sparked a fire. Additionally an expletive directed to an Arab was found painted on the west wall of the building, a police report said.
The store's owner, who police believe is Arab or Muslim, suffered minor burns and had cuts on his arms, police said.
The fire severely damaged the store which has been "a fixture in the community for quite a long time" Fenner said. It's likely the store, which has sold dairy products and household items since the 1960s, is a total loss and might have to be knocked down.
As of Friday morning, no one had been arrested.
Fenner said his department is waiting for an analysis of evidence sent to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to come back before officially classifying the fire as a hate crime.
"The case is still in throes of being investigated," Fenner said. "We hope to have enough information to solve this one."
3 comments:
This really pisses me off!!!!
Jana
End of an ERA. A**Holes!
I'm going to work on this. They are a nice family and if I have any say in the matter, they will have the support of this neighborhood.
Jenny
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