Arson Investigators Examine Surveillance In Suspicious Fire
DENVER (CBS4)- Investigators are searching for the person of interest who may be responsible for two suspicious fires on New Year's Day.
The first fire started around 1 p.m. Friday behind the Zamzam Halal International Market near Iliff and Quebec. The market's delivery truck went up in flames, and is a total loss.
The owner says it's the second suspicious fire on his property in just six months.
"I believe it's hate. That's what's behind it," said Mohammed Almosawi, owner of Zamzam Halal International Market.
Almosawi is out $50,000 for the delivery truck and all of the products inside of it.
The suspect may have gotten away without a trace if it weren't for surveillance cameras which the store had recently installed.
Surveillance video shows a man first walked in front of the store. He then walked behind the building. The man got into the delivery truck, went to the dumpster, walked back to the truck and then walked away.
One minute later the truck went up in smoke.
"I pretty much think he targeted us," said Almosawi.
A witness working nearby snapped a photo of the burning truck.
"I ran out back and that's when I saw the smoking truck," said Victor Stearns, "and then the next thing I knew, the whole cabin went up in flames."
Firefighters doused the blaze.
A second suspicious fire broke out in a trailer just blocks away less than two hours later. Arson investigators believe the two fires may be related.
Authorities asked for the public's help to identify the man in the surveillance video.
Anyone who may recognize him is urged to call the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office at (303) 795-4711.
Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.
