Name: Minneapolis man pleads guilty to torching University Avenue business during May unrest
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Minneapolis man pleads guilty to torching University Avenue business during May unrest

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A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty Friday to starting a fire in an Enterprise Rent-A-Car building in St. Paul during the unrest that followed the death of George Floyd.According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Matthew Scott White, 32, was charged with one count of arson. He entered his guilty plea before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.White admitted to entering the Enterprise building at 1161 W. University Ave. on May 28 and starting a fire inside a back office. White fueled the fire by throwing papers and other flammable items onto the flames, according to the criminal complaint.On June 3, investigators with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives examined the scene and determined that the fire was caused by arson and originated from within the structure. The Enterprise building was destroyed.Enterprise was one of dozens of St. Paul buildings — mostly along University Avenue — damaged in the rioting that began in South Minneapolis after Floyd died while in police custody.Footage captured by Enterprise’s security cameras shows White entering the building with his nephew at 8:44 p.m. while his sister waited outside, according to the criminal complaint.White’s sister, Jessica Lynn White, 33, of Andover, was charged in June with conspiracy to commit arson.When they exited the building at 8:49 p.m., flames were visible in the reflection of the front window.A witness told ATF investigators that, as White walked out of the building, he said something to the effect of “back up because it’s going up,” according to the complaint. Another witness told investigators that White threw objects onto the fire after it was started.This case is the result of an investigation conducted jointly by the ATF, the FBI, the St. Paul Police Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division.White has an extensive criminal history with multiple burglary and theft convictions, drug possession, counterfeiting and lying to police officers.PrintThanks for reading!Get unlimited access to enjoy this article and moreAlready a subscriber? LoginView more on

A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty Friday to starting a fire in an Enterprise Rent-A-Car building in St. Paul during the unrest that followed the death of George Floyd.According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Matthew Scott White, 32, was charged with one count of arson. He entered his guilty plea before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.White admitted to entering the Enterprise building at 1161 W. University Ave. on May 28 and starting a fire inside a back office. White fueled the fire by throwing papers and other flammable items onto the flames, according to...

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Deanna Weniger

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Minneapolis man pleads guilty to torching University Avenue business during May unrest

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