On October 18, 2024, officers of the Brooklyn Park Police Department responded to reports of multiple vehicle fires occurring at [ADDRESS REDACTED], City of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Officers arrived and observed two vehicles with apparent fire damage. The first vehicle (VEHICLE 1), a 2007 Infiniti G-3 SUV (MN LIC #4CC979) was observed to be parked at the rear of the address with its doors and hood open, airbags deployed, with fire damage to the rear of the vehicle near the fuel access point.
The second vehicle (VEHICLE), a 2008 Volvo HC-90, was observed in an adjacent parking lot with charring on the outside of the passenger side with a material hanging out of the fuel access point with the cap removed. Arson investigators determined both fires to be intentionally set by the placement of foreign objects into the respective gas tanks that were then ignited. Next to VEHICLE 2, investigators found the fuel cap on the ground near material similar to that found stuffed in the gas line. A DNA swab was obtained from the fuel cap, and analysis was conducted by the Hennepin County Crime Lab on or about September 3, 2025. From that examination, a major DNA profile was obtained that resulted in a CODIS hit on November 24, 2025, matching DNA belonging to ROBERT BRANDON COOK [DOB REDACTED]. The presence of DEFENDANT’s DNA on the gas cap places him in contact with the point of origin for the fire to VEHICLE 2 at the time of its ignition and is consistent with the manner of ignition to VEHICLE 1. The value of both vehicles is estimated to exceed $1,000 each.
DEFENDANT is not presently in custody.
