Authorities in Winnipeg, Canada have charged a Canadian teenager with arson after a charter bus, belonging to the Kane County Cougars, a U.S.-based independent professional baseball team, was set on fire. The team was visiting Canada for games against the Winnipeg Goldeyes when their bus was found engulfed in flames outside Blue Cross Park.
The incident took place on May 21, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement. According to the Winnipeg Police Service, the fire was determined to have been deliberately ignited. Initial arrests included two teenagers; a 15-year-old girl has now been formally charged with arson causing damage to property and possession of incendiary materials. She has been released into the custody of a responsible adult.
The entirety of the bus and its contents were destroyed, a significant loss reported by police. Windstar, the charter company that owned the bus, expressed disappointment over the incident. Operations manager Jackson Greteman commented on the impact, stating, “We are very disappointed that this could happen to our family-owned company. The loss of this vehicle will impact our business and operations.” He was relieved that there were no injuries and confirmed cooperation with local authorities.
The financial damage to the bus and the destroyed equipment has been estimated at approximately $425,000. The motive behind this act remains unclear, as the investigation is still underway.
Mitch Picasso contributed to this report for Fox News.
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