MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Authorities say a grudge against Eagan officials led to two men setting fire to the Historic Eagan City Hall.
The Dakota County Attorney’s Office says Michael Duane Damron (also known as Wade Duane Arvidson), 52, and Wynn Donald Arvidson, 50, have both been charged with first-degree arson in connection to the Sept. 8, 2013 incident.
According to the criminal complaint, Damron was upset with Eagan officials after unsuccessfully suing Eagan and Inver Grove Heights for $12 million. The Damron/Arvidson family believed police had taken items belonging to them during the course of a 2006 criminal investigation into multiple thefts.
Authorities say Damron has a history of writing threatening letters to various officials and vandalism against entities he’s upset with.
On Sept. 3, 2013, the city hall was set on fire at 4:30 a.m. DNA evidence from feces found near the scene connected Wynn Arvidson to the crime, and home surveillance video from the two men’s home show the men talking about starting fires and shows them leaving a couple hours prior to the arson, the complaint said.
If convicted, both men face up to 20 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
