A small business in Winona recently lost about $200,000 worth of equipment in a fire on May 18.
An investigation into the fire revealed the fire to be arson, according to Bob Black, owner of Bob’s Wrecker Service at 1011 Church Street in Winona.
He said he received a phone call around 11 p.m. on May 18 from Winona Fire Chief Brad Mooneyham. Black said Chief Mooneyham informed him the fire marshal would be investigating the burning of the equipment. Black also said Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies were on the scene of the fire, and it was his understanding the Sheriff’s Department would be collaborating with the fire marshal during the investigation.
He said due to the March 24 tornado, the whole front of the business was damaged, and the storm had taken out any cameras that might have provided more information regarding the arson.
Black said he did not want to mention anyone who he might suspect at this time, as he was under advisement from the Sheriff’s Department not to do so.
According to a release issued by Sheriff Jeff Tompkins, both firefighters and deputies responded to a fire at the wrecker service and “discovered that a wrecker and a front-end loader were on fire.”
The release stated the two pieces of equipment “were not in close proximity to each other, and it appears they were set on fire intentionally.”
Black is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the perpetrator.
Tompkins requested the public provide information regarding the case to the Sheriff’s office at 662-283-3343 or Crime Stoppers at 662-222-1001.
