Police seek woman recorded committing arson after potential ICE transaction canceled

By Tony Madden

Police are investigating an attempted arson at a south Kansas City property previously considered for an immigration detention center, according to KCPD. The investigation comes after Platform Ventures, which owns the property, announced it would not sell to the federal government for an ICE facility.

A Feb. 12 video recorded by KMBC shows a woman setting fire to the warehouse at 14901 Botts Rd. at the 49 Crossing industrial park at the former Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base. Department of Homeland Security agents toured the property on Jan. 15th with the aim of holding detainees there, prompting ongoing pushback from officials and community members.

The KMBC video garnered national media attention the same day Platform Ventures released a statement on the company’s decision not to move forward with the transaction, citing fiduciary requirements. 

KCPD officers were dispatched to a fire incident at the property in the early evening of Feb. 12, according to Capt. Jake Becchina. When officers arrived, the building appeared to be intentionally burned, he said.

Witnesses reported an unknown woman appeared to spray something on the building before lighting it on fire and then leaving the scene. The fire was put out before it spread, and no injuries were reported, Becchina added. 

No arrests have been made in the case. KCPD Bomb and Arson detectives, who also responded to the scene, are conducting an investigation.

“Any act of destroying public or private property is unacceptable,” County Legislator Manny Abarca said in a written statement. “I will never encourage or condone destruction. People are frustrated, I get that, but there are other ways to make your voice heard rather than setting a building on fire.”

Kansas City Mayor Quentin Lucas also released a written statement on X Friday afternoon, condemning the federal government rather than the arsonist. 

“I am outraged by federal efforts to place 10,000 human beings in cages inside distribution warehouses in Kansas City or anywhere in our country,” the statement said. “I’ll trust the courts, our local prosecutors, and law enforcement in Kansas City to handle the offender.” 

The Telegraph repeatedly attempted to contact Platform Ventures for comment via phone and was prompted to leave a voicemail each time.