Posted: 11/5/03

Authorities say $100,000 reward may fuel fire tips

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

If anyone out there knows who may be responsible for the Oct. 25 house fire here, a $100,000 reward may be the incentive needed to pry those tips free.

News of the reward highlighted a press briefing Monday that confirmed that arson has been ruled in the fire that destroyed Oscar and Valerie Carlsonís 15,000 square foot home that was under construction in Forest Lake. The reward of up to $100,000 has been offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

The two new developments were announced Monday at a press conference here with Forest Lake police and fire officials and investigators from the state fire marshalís office and the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms that is providing assistance in the case.

David Schwartz, chief of police, said investigators were elated with the anonymous pledge of the money to help crack the case. ìWe really think this will bring somebody forward,î the chief said later.

He said the anonymous donor came forward last Thursday and represents a group of individuals including some from the Forest Lake area.

ìIt took us by surprise,î Schwartz said of the reward money. ìThis is a huge amount of money.î

The chief said investigators continue to look to the public for help in solving the arson of the home valued at $4.5 to $5 million.

On Monday, officials said they were asking anyone who may have been on the water from dusk on Friday, Oct. 24 to sunrise Saturday, Oct. 25 to contact police. Officials would not elaborate on the need for the publicís help in this area.

Schwartz said again any help from the public with information about the fire would be appreciated. ìWe donít care what it is,î he said this week.

He said authorities are looking for any kind of public reports from the area.

Details are few

Mondayís briefing was punctuated by numerous ìno commentî responses from Ron Rahman, lead investigator for the state fire marshal.

Rahman and Schwartz said the on-going investigation has ruled out any possible accidental cause of the fire that destroyed the home that had been under construction since May of 2002 and was two months from completion.

With all accidental causes eliminated, arson is the only cause remaining, officials said.

Rahman would not comment on how the fire may have started, any potential suspects, where the blaze started in the home or the nature of calls made to the homeowners following a newspaper article in mid-October featuring the home that was being built at 6985 North Shore Trail N.

He said the investigators were in possession of evidence they did not wish to share with the general public.

Rahman was specific that the anonymous reward has no connection to the owners of the home or their family. Schwartz said the anonymous pledge was made by a group of people ìupsetî by what happened in Forest Lake.

Persons wishing to report information are asked to call the 24-hour Arson Hotline at 1-800-723-2020 or the Forest Lake Police Department at 651-464-5877.

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