Published: Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Arson detectives investigating fires at two Everett coffee stands
EVERETT -- Arson detectives are investigating fires set at two Everett espresso stands, including one coffee hut that was at the center of controversy after baristas were busted for selling sex.
Police say the first fire was set just after midnight Monday at Carol's Grab N' Go espresso, located in the 8000 block of Broadway. The bikini barista stand was the target of a two-month undercover police investigation in 2009 after police received complaints that the baristas were selling more than java. Five baristas were charged with prostitution.
The stand was repossessed in February because the former owner, Bill Wheeler, failed to fully pay for the structure. A new stand quickly took its place. Signs scribbled across the windows advertised that the coffee hut was back in business.
Wheeler disappeared in May 2010 during a trip to Las Vegas. His burned-out Toyota pickup truck was later found abandoned at a dump site in the California high desert.
Shortly after his disappearance, his wife, Carol Wheeler, took over the stand on Broadway.
Monday's fire caused considerable damage to the outside of the stand before it was quickly extinguished by Everett firefighters, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said. Evidence left at the scene indicated that the fire had been intentionally set, he said.
A second stand, Bean Me Up Espresso, was hit Monday night. A truck operator for Dick's Towing saw flames halfway up the stand around 10:20 p.m. He pulled into the lot at the 6500 block of Evergreen Way and used an extinguisher to squelch the flames.
The quick action prevented substantial damage and the stand was open for business on Tuesday.
Sharon Knowles, who owns the stand with her husband Pat, said she is thankful.
"Wasn't he quick?" she said. "If he wasn't, I'm sure I would have lost the business. He really saved my business."
It appeared someone set fire to the stand from the outside back of the building. Other neighboring businesses, including a sports bar in the same parking lot, were open at the time.
A witness described seeing a white male in his late teens run from the area just before the stand caught fire. He was wearing all dark clothing, Goetz said.
That espresso stand does not have bikini-clad baristas.
Investigators have declined to discuss what evidence was collected at the stands.
Everett police officers are warning espresso stand owners and baristas to be on alert.
"There is an effort to get out in front of this as soon as possible," Goetz said. "There were similar MOs (patterns) on successive nights."
Police also are asking the public to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity around espresso stands.
Anyone with any information about the fires is asked to call the tip line at 425-257-8450.
Knowles, who has owned the Bean Me Up Espresso for more than 16 years, said it is frightening someone would set a business on fire.
"I just pray they catch whoever did it," she said.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
Police say the first fire was set just after midnight Monday at Carol's Grab N' Go espresso, located in the 8000 block of Broadway. The bikini barista stand was the target of a two-month undercover police investigation in 2009 after police received complaints that the baristas were selling more than java. Five baristas were charged with prostitution.
The stand was repossessed in February because the former owner, Bill Wheeler, failed to fully pay for the structure. A new stand quickly took its place. Signs scribbled across the windows advertised that the coffee hut was back in business.
Wheeler disappeared in May 2010 during a trip to Las Vegas. His burned-out Toyota pickup truck was later found abandoned at a dump site in the California high desert.
Shortly after his disappearance, his wife, Carol Wheeler, took over the stand on Broadway.
Monday's fire caused considerable damage to the outside of the stand before it was quickly extinguished by Everett firefighters, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said. Evidence left at the scene indicated that the fire had been intentionally set, he said.
A second stand, Bean Me Up Espresso, was hit Monday night. A truck operator for Dick's Towing saw flames halfway up the stand around 10:20 p.m. He pulled into the lot at the 6500 block of Evergreen Way and used an extinguisher to squelch the flames.
The quick action prevented substantial damage and the stand was open for business on Tuesday.
Sharon Knowles, who owns the stand with her husband Pat, said she is thankful.
"Wasn't he quick?" she said. "If he wasn't, I'm sure I would have lost the business. He really saved my business."
It appeared someone set fire to the stand from the outside back of the building. Other neighboring businesses, including a sports bar in the same parking lot, were open at the time.
A witness described seeing a white male in his late teens run from the area just before the stand caught fire. He was wearing all dark clothing, Goetz said.
That espresso stand does not have bikini-clad baristas.
Investigators have declined to discuss what evidence was collected at the stands.
Everett police officers are warning espresso stand owners and baristas to be on alert.
"There is an effort to get out in front of this as soon as possible," Goetz said. "There were similar MOs (patterns) on successive nights."
Police also are asking the public to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity around espresso stands.
Anyone with any information about the fires is asked to call the tip line at 425-257-8450.
Knowles, who has owned the Bean Me Up Espresso for more than 16 years, said it is frightening someone would set a business on fire.
"I just pray they catch whoever did it," she said.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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