UPDATE: Man Identified, Charged in Kaposia Park Arson Investigation
Published: May 3, 2026 | May 5, 2026 at 2:30 pm.
UPDATE: New court documents have identified the suspect arrested in connection with a series of intentionally set fires at Kaposia Park and provide additional details about the incident and arrest.
According to the criminal complaint, the suspect has been identified as 25-year-old Blake Joseph Schlosser, a South St. Paul resident, who is now facing charges for arson.
Officers Witness Suspect Near Active Fire
The complaint states that on the night of May 2, 2026, reserve officers with the South St. Paul Police Department observed multiple small brush fires burning throughout Kaposia Park, spanning roughly a city block and extending into a heavily wooded area.
At approximately 11:20 p.m., officers reported seeing heavy smoke coming from one area of the park. When they arrived, they observed a man kneeling next to an active fire.
As officers approached in their squad vehicle, the man fled on foot into the woods. Officers gave commands for him to stop, but he did not comply.
Suspect Located Hiding in Ravine
Additional officers quickly responded and established a perimeter around the wooded area. After a search, Schlosser was located hiding in a ravine and taken into custody without further incident.
Authorities noted in the complaint that Schlosser appeared to be intoxicated at the time of his arrest. Officers also reported locating a small torch-style lighter on his person.
Statement to Police
Following his arrest, Schlosser provided a statement to investigators after being advised of his rights. According to the complaint, he told officers that he had been in the park with other individuals and claimed that another person had started one of the fires. He stated that the group ran into the woods at the same time as he did.
Schlosser also allegedly told officers that he fled because he is currently on probation and had been smoking “a joint."
Investigation Continues
As previously reported, authorities believe multiple fires were intentionally set throughout the park. While damage was limited to grass, brush, and trees within Kaposia Park, officials have emphasized the potential danger posed to nearby homes given the conditions at the time.
Schlosser’s bail was set at $20,000 without conditions and $2,000 with conditions. As of this update, he has not posted bail and remains in custody at Dakota County Jail.
As with all criminal cases, Schlosser is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Provided by Dakota County Jail.
ORIGINAL STORY - SOUTH SAINT PAUL, MN: New details released by the South St. Paul Police Department indicate that a series of fires discovered late Friday night at Kaposia Park are believed to have been intentionally set, leading to the arrest of a 25-year-old man.
Earlier Fires Prompt Extra Patrol
According to police, the incident began earlier in the evening, around 9:15 p.m., when officers located multiple small fires burning in Kaposia Park at 1028 Wilde Avenue. Those fires were extinguished with the assistance of the South Metro Fire Department.
A preliminary investigation led officers to suspect the fires were intentionally set. In response, police increased patrols throughout the city’s park system.
Second Wave of Fires and Suspect Spotted
At approximately 11:25 p.m., officers again discovered multiple fires burning in the park. While attempting to extinguish one of the fires, officers observed an unknown male running from the area into a wooded section of the park.
Authorities immediately initiated a coordinated search, calling in assistance from multiple agencies already in northern Dakota County for a traffic safety enforcement event.
Multi-Agency Response and K9 Track
A perimeter was quickly established around the wooded ravine area surrounding the park with help from several agencies, including the Dakota County Sheriff's Office, West St. Paul Police Department, Inver Grove Heights Police Department, Farmington Police Department, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
Air support from the State Patrol’s Flight Section, along with a drone deployed by Inver Grove Heights Police, assisted in the search. A K9 unit, K9 “Doug,” was deployed to track the suspect from the area where he was last seen.
Approximately 20 minutes later, officers located the individual hiding in a densely wooded ravine within the park. He was taken into custody without incident.
During the search, aerial units also identified additional fires in the area, which authorities believe were also intentionally set.
Suspect Booked on Arson Charges
Police say the suspect, a 25-year-old man from South St. Paul, was transported to the Dakota County Jail and booked on charges related to arson and damage to property. The case has been forwarded to the Dakota County Attorney's Office for formal charging consideration.
Authorities have not yet released the suspect’s name, and all individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Damage Assessment
Officials noted that while the fires caused damage primarily to land and trees within the park, the situation could become far more serious.
Police emphasized that, under different conditions, the fires could have spread rapidly and threatened nearby residential areas.
Investigation Ongoing
The investigation remains active as authorities continue reviewing evidence and preparing the case for potential prosecution.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the South St. Paul Police Department.
Location of possible arson, Kaposia Park.
