Insurance Business Targeted in Molotov Cocktail Attack
LAKE WALES, Fla. – The Lake Wales Police Department is actively investigating an arson incident at a local insurance business. According to police reports, an unknown individual broke a window at Univista Insurance and threw two Molotov cocktails inside.
The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Univista Insurance location on Highway 60. The business offers a variety of insurance products, including auto, home, commercial, life, and health insurance.
“One was a RedHot Hot Sauce bottle, and another one was a soy sauce-type bottle,” said Sgt. Ricky Hartwell of the Lake Wales Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division. The resulting fires caused damage to the floor and an artificial plant inside the business but were extinguished before the building was fully engulfed. In addition to the arson, the words “Civil War Trump” were spray-painted on the front of the building.
No one was inside the business at the time of the attack, and there were no reported injuries. Sgt. Hartwell emphasized the seriousness of the incident. “We don’t know what the motive is. Inside the city limits of Lake Wales, it’s pretty unique to us – we don’t see this every day, and that’s why we’re taking it so seriously,” he stated.
The investigation is ongoing, and the Lake Wales Police Department is actively searching for the suspect. The owner of Univista Insurance declined to comment on the investigation until it is complete and an arrest has been made.
This information has been gathered through an interview with Sgt. Ricky Hartwell and details provided by the Lake Wales Police Department.
