Investigators suspect arson in NW Minn. Amish barn fire

by Dan Gunderson, Minnesota Public Radio

Moorhead, Minn. — Investigators are trying to find out who set fire to an Amish farmer's barn in northwest Minnesota.

Polk County sheriff's investigator Jim Tadman said a preliminary finding from the State Fire Marshal is that the fire was intentionally set.

Tadman said the sheriff's department is also looking in to reports some Amish residents have been harassed.

"We're trying to determine if it's kids or people out driving the back roads horsing around or if it's tied into this," Tadman said.

Tadman said there's no evidence the barn fire is a hate crime.

"Right now with the information we have I just can't label it as that," he said.

He said investigators will see if there's any connection between reports of harassment and the recent barn fire.