On November 16 at 6:54 a.m., Officers from the Independence Township Substation were dispatched to the 6600 block of Dixie Highway (Express Weight Loss and Wellness) for a waterflow alarm.
Upon arrival, water was observed flowing out of the front door and the smell of smoke was detected.
The Independence Township Fire Department was called to the scene. An Oakland County Sheriff’s Office fire investigator was on the way into work at the time and heard the call come out on the radio and responded to the scene.
Officers found the back door to have been pried open and when entering the building, they observed a sprinkler head had been activated due to smoke in the building. They also discovered an already-extinguished fire in the corner just to the right of the back entrance.
During their investigation, there were three total fires found throughout the building which had been lit and then extinguished. A review of surveillance video showed a subject in the building spraying lighter fluid down the hallway floor and then igniting it.
Cameras from surrounding businesses showed two subjects walking in front and behind the building at the time of the incident.
Two laptop computers were taken from the business. Outside footage showed one of the subjects with the laptop and a bottle of lighter fluid leaving the scene. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Fire Investigations Unit collected evidence at the scene and is handling the investigation.
Anyone who has information leading to an arrest in this incident can contact the Detroit Arson Commission at 800-443-7766 or at detroitcrimecommission.org/initiatives/arson-rewardcommittee/.
A $5,000 reward is being offered.