Since the explosion at the Hereford House restaurant at 20th and Main last October, breaks in the case have been scarce as a vegan in a butcher shop. Anyway, thanks to every business at that intersection videotaping every other business and surrounding parking lot, we finally have a picture of the suspected arsonist.
After the jump, more photos of the suspect and video from today's news conference.
Though they released these images from surveillance footage, police couldn't give much of a description. They were uncomfortable providing anything further than a "middle age white guy." Hard-hitting TV news crews asked a lot of case-breaking questions like "Could he be homeless?" or "Do you think he was ever a customer at the restaurant?" But an ATF agent refused to speculate.
What they will do, in a joint offer with the Kansas City Fire Department and the Kansas City Police Department, is offer a $5,000 reward for info leading to an arrest and conviction. So if you know this paunchy old guy, call the ATF offices at 816-559-0850 or 888-ATF-FIRE or Kansas City Crime Stoppers at 816-474-TIPS.
The agents said they believed the man pictured was likely working with others.
Unfortunately we don't know how the owner reacted to the news that a suspect's picture was being circulated. The ATF agent said that immediately after the October fire, the owner cooperated for a day, but then retained legal counsel and hasn't been available since. The Hereford House is owned by the Anderson Restaurant Group, whose CFO is Jim Stanislav. Asked whether it was unusual for the owner of a property ravaged by deliberately set explosions to refuse to discuss the investigation, the ATF agent remained noncommittal.
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