Man accused of starting fire at Duluth auto body shop

A 26-year-old Superior man is being held in the St. Louis County Jail on a warrant alleging that he started a fire in a large dumpster at Peerless Auto Body on First Street in Duluth.

The fire was reported at 3:15 a.m. Tuesday. Duluth police officers were able to follow footprints from the Dumpster that led them to a man standing in front of a bar in the 2000 block of West Superior Street. His footwear appeared to match the prints found.

The suspect also was found to be in possession of methamphetamine.

Police have requested the county attorney’s office file formal charges of third-degree arson and fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance against the suspect.

This wasn’t the first time a fire has been started at Peerless Auto Body. A fire on Dec. 27, 2010, destroyed the shop’s previous location, a 38,000-square-foot, two-story building at 2831 W. Superior St.

Then-25-year-old Kevin Michael Luick was sentenced to six years’ probation and six months in jail or a correctional center in February 2011 after pleading guilty to felony charges of burglary, theft and causing a negligent fire.

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