2 Men Threw Molotov Cocktails Into Dakota County Building: Feds

APPLE VALLEY, MN — Federal authorities accuse two men of throwing molotov cocktails into a Dakota County government building. Garrett Patrick Ziegler, 24, and Fornandous Cortez Henderson, 32, have both been charged with arson and possession of Molotov cocktails.

Ziegler is from Long Lake and Henderson is from Savage.

On the morning of May 29, the Apple Valley Police Department was dispatched to a fire alarm at the Dakota County Western Service Center. The facility houses state and local agencies and organizations, including Dakota County court facilities, as well as a U.S. Passport center.

Officers at the scene discovered broken windows, smoke, and flames coming from the west side of the building where the judges’ chambers and clerks’ offices are located. Police also found items used Molotov cocktails, including broken glass jars and liquor bottles, pushpins, intact glass jars containing ignitable liquid, and a charred red bandana.

Authorities found Ziegler and Henderson on a road nearby and they were taken into custody, police said.

There were also car keys belonging to a Ford Fiesta parked in a neighboring business’ parking lot, according to investigators. Officers later executed a search warrant on the vehicle, which was registered to Ziegler, authorities said.

According to the criminal complaint, in the vehicle they found:

• Liquor bottles
• A store receipt dated May 28 for three bandanas
• Boxes of push pins
• An empty cardboard box for jars
• Empty Kingsford brand lighter fluid bottle
• Isopropyl alcohol bottles
• Plastic jar containing a clear unidentified liquid and T-pins
• A store receipt dated May 27 for nail polish remover

Ziegler and Henderson made their initial appearance Tuesday, according to a news release. They were ordered to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing, which is scheduled for Thursday.