2 sought in S. Tahoe arson seen at concert hours before fire started

The two people who police believe started last week’s fire at the Bijou Center in South Lake Tahoe were caught on other surveillance tape.

The two men are on video taken at MontBleu casino in Stateline attending the Atmosphere concert on Aug. 24.

Early the next morning the fire was started at the back corner of the shopping center. Sprinklers and people working late in the center who called 911 helped keep the flames to the exterior of the building.

Officers are looking for this man.

Police want to speak with this man.

“It’s unknown if it was specifically targeted or a random act,” South Lake Tahoe police Detective Doug Sentell told Lake Tahoe News.

It is also unknown if the two wanted for questioning are local or from out of town.

Regarding the suspect in the second photo, his T-shirt has a drawing of a marijuana leaf on the front and a larger marijuana leaf on the back of the shirt tail. The wording across the top front of the shirt is hard to make out but looks like it says “West Side”, according to Sentell.

The fire started when a liquid accelerant was poured into a trash can before being lighted, according to authorities.

If you recognize the people in the photos or have information on this incident, call Detective Doug Sentell at (530) 542.6100 or call Secret Witness at (530) 541-6800 to remain anonymous.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report