A 24-year-old Minnesota man was arrested and charged this week for allegedly lighting Target’s headquarters on fire during rioting in Minneapolis on Aug. 26.
Authorities said Jackson then entered the building’s mail room, where he ignited a fire on the top of a desk before pouring liquid from a bottle onto the fire.
About 5 minutes later, the man ran out of the building.
He was seen walking away on a sidewalk before stopping and looking into the main Target entrance door in the direction of the fire.
Surveillance cameras captured Jackson committing the criminal act, authorities said.
City cameras showed Jackson next to a white Ford Explorer with a Minnesota license plate. Jackson opened the driver’s door, reached inside, and locked it.
Detectives used law enforcement databases to find out who owned the vehicle. Jackson owned the SUV.
They then saw Jackson resembled the man seen inside Target.
Jackson was found just after midnight the next day by Richfield police officers, who saw open alcohol bottles inside the vehicle and smelled alcohol and marijuana.
A check of databases came back showing Jackson’s driver’s license was revoked.
When officers searched the vehicle after arresting Jackson, they “found clothes, purses, belts, a money counting machine, tobacco products, and liquor bottles,” according to an affidavit obtained by The Epoch Times.
“Many of the articles of clothing had their price tags on them, but their security tags cut off,” the court document stated.
Jackson’s lawyer didn’t respond to requests for comment.
A Target spokeswoman told The Epoch Times via email: “We appreciate the efforts of the Minneapolis Fire Department and other local authorities on the night of the incident and will continue providing the Bureau with any information that’s helpful to their case. We always prioritize safety and we’re grateful no one was hurt.”
Jackson was arrested on Thursday and appeared in court on Friday. He is being held pending a formal detention and preliminary hearing, which is scheduled to take place on Sept. 16. He was charged with arson and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
