A Canadian teenager has been charged with arson following an incident in which a charter bus, belonging to an American professional baseball team, was set ablaze during their road trip to Winnipeg, Canada.
The Kane County Cougars, an independent professional baseball team based in the United States, were on tour in Canada for a series of games against the Winnipeg Goldeyes.
On May 21, the Winnipeg Police Service responded to reports of a fire outside Blue Cross Park, where the team’s bus was found engulfed in flames.
Authorities quickly concluded that the fire was started deliberately. Two teenagers were initially detained in connection with the incident. Subsequently, a 15-year-old girl has been charged with arson for causing damage to property, as well as for possessing incendiary materials.
A Canadian teenager is facing arson charges after police say she set fire to a charter bus carrying the Kane County Cougars during a road trip in Winnipeg. (SEBASTIEN ST-JEAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Authorities determined that the fire was intentionally set. Two teenagers were initially taken into custody. A 15-year-old girl has since been charged with arson causing damage to property and possession of incendiary material.
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The teen was later released into the custody of a responsible adult, police said.
“The entire bus and contents were destroyed,” the Winnipeg Police Service said in a release.
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A New York Yankees photo shows a bag of baseballs on a field. (New York Yankees/Getty Images)
“We are very disappointed that this could happen to our family-owned company, and the loss of this vehicle will impact our business and operations,” Windstar operations manager Jackson Greteman told a CBC Lite.
“We are happy that no one was hurt in this reckless act of vandalism and are co-operating with local authorities,” he added.
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Police in Winnipeg arrested a Canadian teen after a charter bus belonging to an American professional baseball team was destroyed in a fire. (Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Greteman said damage to the 56-seat bus and destroyed equipment is estimated at roughly $425,000.
Authorities have not publicly discussed a possible motive as the investigation continues.
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