NEWS RELEASE June 5, 2020
For Immediate Release
Multiple Vehicles Burned and Vandalized near Monroe
Union County Sheriff’s deputies and Monroe Police officers, along with Monroe and Mineral Springs firefighters responded to a vehicle fire in the 300 block of Dale Street shortly before 11:00 pm Thursday night. Upon arrival, emergency personnel discovered that three vehicles, including a Lexus sedan, a Ford F350 dually pickup truck hitched to a flatbed trailer and an 18 wheeler had been burned and vandalized. The incident occurred just a short distance outside the Monroe City limits.
Officers observed that “BLM” and “Black Lives Matter” had been spray painted in various places on the exterior of the vehicles as well as on the attached trailers. In addition, officers discovered similar spray paintings on the side of the former Food Lion building nearby.
The Union County Fire Marshal, K-9 “Camden,” along with a Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) and an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) responded and processed the vehicles and surrounding area for evidence. It was determined that the vehicles were intentionally burned using bottles filled with flammable liquids, commonly referred to as Molotov cocktails. The interior of the semi-truck had minor damage but the passenger areas of the Lexus as well as the Ford F350 were completely destroyed. Investigators determined that the registered owners of the vehicles often park along Dale Street due to residential codes or limited parking at their respective homes.
There are no suspects at this time but sheriff’s detectives and ATF agents are continuing the investigation. If you have any information about this matter, please contact the Union County Sheriff’s Office, 704-283-3789 or Union County Crimestoppers at 704-283-5600.