The Chicago Police Department issued a Business Alert last week about two related cannabis dispensary Molotov-cocktail fires, and yesterday, a Molotov-cocktail arson attempt occurred at a third dispensary.

The Chicago Police Department alert gave notice of recent arson-related fires of two cannabis dispensaries, one in the Portage Park neighborhood in the 16th (Jefferson Park) District and the other in the Lincoln Square neighborhood in the 19th (Town Hall) District. The first Molotov-cocktail incident occurred about 3:13 a.m. April 19 at Cannabist Dispensary in Jefferson Park, and the second fire was set about 3:49 a.m. Sunday, April 27, at Chicago Cannabis Company in North Center. For both incidents, an unknown male offender used a hammer to break the front windows of two cannabis dispensaries. The offender then lit a Molotov cocktail and threw it inside the businesses. The offender, according to the report, was male, approximately 5’9″, 190-240 lbs., wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, black gym shoes and a face mask. He also had a black fanny pack worn across his body and around his shoulder.

The third lit Molotov-cocktail arson attempt occurred about 4:10 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Cannabist Villa Park dispensary. Villa Park Police and Fire Departments responded to the alarm call and saw the retail store’s front window had been damaged. Police said they smelled gas inside. The store’s surveillance video shows a possible male suspect, wearing all-black clothing and a face mask, approached the store and broke the window. Police said the suspect then threw a lit Molotov cocktail inside, but the flame quickly extinguished after landing.

The incidents remain under investigation. If you have any information about the first two incidents, please contact Arson Section at (312) 746-7618 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com and use reference # 25-CWP-018. Anyone with information about the third incident can contact Villa Park Police at 630-834-7447.

“The Jefferson Park location is temporarily closed until further notice due to an unfortunate incident currently under investigation by the Chicago Police and Fire Departments,” a Cannabist spokesperson stated. “We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. We are working with appropriate authorities and contractors to assess the extent of the damage and will get back to operations as quickly as possible.”

“We’re sad to say we were victims of an arson attack, carried out in the same fashion as the suspect who torched a different shop in Jefferson Park,” stated a post on Chicago Cannabis Company’s Instagram page. “Thankfully, no one was hurt and the damage was minimal thanks to ultra-fast response by first responders and our alarm system. Our owner was also there within 15 minutes to talk with the Chicago Police about the attack and begin cleanup–it was rough to say the least. We have clear footage of the suspect and are working with authorities to ensure justice.”

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