Man Accused Of Starting Fire In QuikTrip, Crashing Into Other Car

Tulsa Police said a man is in custody after starting a fire inside of a QuikTrip.

Police said officers were called to the QuikTrip located near 81st and Memorial around 2:45 a.m. on Monday. Investigators said Marshall Chippewa walked into the store, poured gas on the counter, and told the clerk he was going to set the place on fire. Police said Chippewa also tried to set the outside of the building on fire.

The Tulsa Fire Department responded and put the flames out. Meanwhile, police said Chippewa got in a car and took off eastbound on 81st Street. A TPD officer spotted Chippewa’s car and tried to pull him over. Investigators said Chippewa pulled into another lane and crashed into another driver.

David Dambroso is the driver of the other car and said he was not expecting to get side-swiped while driving home and that he is thankful officers responded quickly.

“I think I’m OK, I’m a little bit sore so we’ll see how I feel in the morning, but I’m glad no one is seriously injured,” said Dambroso.

Police are still trying to figure out why Chippewa set the fires. Lt. Darren Bristow, Tulsa Police, said the damage to the store was minimal but cigarettes behind the counter were mostly damaged.

“He didn’t say why he did it, we asked him why he tried to burn the QuikTrip down, his only response was it wasn’t any particular place he was just going to burn something,” said Lt. Bristow.

Police said Chippewa would be taken to the hospital before heading to jail. Andy Little with the Tulsa Fire Department says this is now a federal case after it was determined that the man is a tribal citizen and because the fire occurred at a business affecting interstate commerce.

A manager of the QuikTrip told police the store could be closed for a week.