A rural Wadena, Minn., man is facing felony arson and theft charges for allegedly setting the Dec. 29 fire that heavily damaged the Wold’s RV Sales building in Detroit Lakes, Minn., and then leaving with a $30,000 Wold’s fish house trailer.
Daniel Martin Kaufman, 42, has been charged with felony second-degree arson and felony theft in Becker County District Court.
According to court records, surveillance video from Foltz Buildings Inc., just east of Wold’s RV, showed Kaufman’s truck pull in and park behind some buildings on the Foltz property on the day of the fire.
Eventually, cell phone tracing and numerous store surveillance video showed that Kaufman left his residence, drove to Detroit Lakes on Highway 10, was in the vicinity of Wold’s just before the fire was reported, and then drove back home afterwards.
When firefighters arrived at Wold’s about 9:45 p.m. Dec. 29, flames were shooting 10-12 feet out windows on the east side and the building was fully engaged, according to court records.
A state fire marshal investigator concluded that the fire was started in an office/storage area, by someone using an open flame to light available combustibles. The fire was classified as “incendiary” in nature, which means it was intentionally ignited.
Kaufman’s distinctive 2018 white Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck, which reportedly has running lights on top, black trim and door handles, a toolbox, a black vertical decal and large mudflaps, had been noticed going east by Detroit Lakes police officers as they were westbound on Highway 10 on their way to the fire.
Details on the rest of the story from Nathan Bowe at DL-Online.com, including the alleged theft of a $30,000 fish house trailer, is here.
