Woman Charged In Arson At Downtown Minneapolis Marshalls
MINNEAPOLIS (AP/WCCO) — A 38-year-old woman is accused of setting a fire at a downtown Minneapolis store that caused more than $500,000 in damage.
Lewonda Jones, of Brooklyn Center, was charged last week in Hennepin County with two counts of arson. Jones was found in Fargo, North Dakota, and is being held in the Cass County jail pending her return to Minnesota.
A clothing rack at the Marshalls store on Nicollet Mall was set ablaze on July 15. The fire closed the outlet for nearly four weeks.
Police say an employee discovered the fire and put it out. No one was hurt.
According to the charges, in-store video surveillance showed Jones taking a long grill lighter from a pocket to ignite the blaze.
Jones was found following the release of surveillance footage to the media.
Several tips came into authorities from a St. Paul woman's shelter, the complaint states. One came from Jones' probation officer.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)