Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ATF Seeks Public’s Help In Investigation Of Hereford House Restaurant Fire

Surveillance pictures released and $5,000 reward offered

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kansas City Fire Department and the Kansas City Police Department, today jointly announced they are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the early morning fire on Oct. 20, 2008, occurring the Hereford House Restaurant at 2 East 20th Street, Kansas City, Mo. In addition, pictures of an unknown individual taken from video surveillance cameras are also being released.

Investigators from ATF’s National Response Team (NRT), the Kansas City Police Bomb and Arson Unit and the Kansas City Fire Department, made a thorough examination of the scene and sufficient evidence was recovered that revealed the fire was intentionally set by one or more persons. The investigation is ongoing as ATF’s local Kansas City office and the Police Department’s Bomb and Arson Unit continue to follow up on numerous leads and conduct numerous interviews.

The public is asked to call the local ATF office at 816-559-0850, ATF’s toll free hotline, 1-888-ATF-FIRE (888-283-3473) or Kansas City Crime Stoppers hotline at 816-474-TIPS (816-474-8477) with any information that may help identify those responsible for the fire. The phone lines are answered 24 hours a day and all calls remain confidential.

More information on ATF and its programs is at www.atf.gov.