Man sets fire in St. Cloud mall food court, gets arrested for arson
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (FOX 9) - A 57-year-old man from Sauk Rapids is facing arson charges after authorities say he intentionally set fire to furniture near the food court at Crossroads Center mall in St. Cloud.
Crossroads Center mall fire
What we know:
St. Cloud Police Department officers and St. Cloud Fire Department firefighters say they responded to a fire inside Crossroads Center mall, located at 4101 Division St., around 9:13 a.m. on Monday.
Authorities say that upon arrival, they found evidence of a fire on furniture near the food court.
Witnesses told officers a man had intentionally started the fire, and bystanders inside the mall had already put it out before crews arrived on scene.
Authorities say that firefighters confirmed the fire was no longer active, then began ventilation efforts to clear smoke from the mall.
Dig deeper:
Authorities say that based on witness statements, they were able to locate a suspect, who was still in the mall.
The 57-year-old man from Sauk Rapids admitted to starting the fire, and was transported to the Stearns County Jail, where he is being held on first-degree arson charges.
What's next:
An update says mall operations have been affected due to smoke damage and ongoing ventilation efforts.
Further updates on mall operations will be released by Crossroads Center.
The Source: Information provided by the St. Cloud Police Department.