Reward Posted in Restaurant Arson Probe
Los Angeles city officials Thursday offered a $25,000 reward for information about a Sept. 17 arson that damaged an Afghan restaurant in Encino.
The motive for the arson remains a mystery, L.A. Fire Department officials said. The FBI has joined the investigation to determine if the fire was a hate crime, bureau spokeswoman Laura Bosley said.
“We have no evidence to prove [it was a hate crime] one way or the other,” said Battalion Chief Dennis Waters, who heads the arson section. “Someone out there knows something about the motive.”
The fire, set about 1:40 a.m. Sept. 17, caused a reported $30,000 in damage at Restaurant Golestan in the 17900 block of Ventura Boulevard. No one was injured.
The day after the arson, fire officials said it did not appear to have been a hate crime. The FBI began investigating about two weeks ago.
Anyone with information is asked to call (213) 485-6095.
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