Police Suspect Arson In Shakopee Wine Shop Fire
SHAKOPEE, Minn. (WCCO) – Police have declared an explosion at a wine shop in Shakopee as a possible case of arson, and they're offering a reward for information leading to an arrest.
Fire crews responded to a report of a fire at the Wine Styles on the 8000 block of Old Carriage Court at about 3:05 a.m. Friday. When authorities arrived, it appeared the front of the store was blown away in some sort of explosion.
The wine store is part of the South Bridge Crossing strip mall. Police believe the suspect may have been injured while starting the explosive fire.
The force of that explosion is evidenced by what little of the storefront at Wine Styles is left. Joanne England co-owns the dentist office next door. She first learned of what happened on the morning news.
"I'm looking at it and thinking, 'Thank goodness it happened at 3 a.m.,'" England said. "My thought was 'Oh my God'. And so I went and woke my husband up and we jumped in the car and came down."
England's business sustained water damage, bowed walls and possible structure damage. The glass front door was boarded up. But this is only a fraction of what happened to Wine Styles.
"They were just gearing up for a busy holiday season, so that's really difficult," she said.
Too upset to go on camera, one of the owners of the store, named Amy, told WCCO they had just stocked up for the holiday season. Earlier, she believed that the fire was caused by a gas-line explosion.
A $2,500 reward was issued by the International Arson Association Investigators (IAAV). If you have any information, please contact the IAAV via their website, call Shakopee Police or contact your local law enforcement.
