Kansas City police have launched an arson investigation after a woman was caught on video trying to set fire to a large south Kansas City warehouse that recently became a flash point over reports it might be turned into an ICE detention facility. The building, part of the former Richards‑Gebaur industrial area at the center of that political storm, briefly caught fire before crews put out the flames, and no injuries were reported.
Officers were called around 5:50 p.m. to the 14900 block of Botts Road, where firefighters determined the blaze appeared to be intentionally set. As reported by KCTV5, Kansas City police said Bomb and Arson detectives responded, but the suspect was gone before officers arrived and no arrests had been made.
Video obtained by local crews shows a woman walking up to the warehouse, spraying what looked like a liquid around the windows, then sparking several small fires that flare and quickly burn out, according to KMBC. Grandview and Kansas City fire crews answered the call and confirmed that no one was hurt.
Owner Halts Sale After Public Pressure
Platform Ventures, the company that owns the warehouse, said it is walking away from any sale after learning the potential buyer was the federal government, the firm told KCUR. The developer said the deal terms no longer met its fiduciary obligations and argued that “baseless speculation” and threats aimed at staff and leadership pushed it to issue a public statement.
Port KC And Local Officials Push Back
As public anger grew over the idea of the site becoming an ICE detention center, Port KC commissioners voted to end future land deals with Platform Ventures, Axios reported. Local officials quickly praised the company’s move to retreat from the sale. Port KC CEO Jon Stephens said he was “relieved” the agreement collapsed, and Mayor Quinton Lucas along with several city council members stressed they would keep working to shut down any similar proposals.
Part Of A Broader National Effort
The Kansas City dispute is unfolding as The Washington Post and other outlets report that federal officials are looking to buy and retrofit large warehouse spaces across the country as detention and processing centers, a strategy that has already drawn protests and legal challenges in multiple cities. Local reporting indicates that DHS and ICE officials toured the south Kansas City property in mid‑January, helping trigger street demonstrations and a city council moratorium on nonmunicipal detention facilities, according to KCUR.
Kansas City police say the Bomb and Arson unit is continuing to investigate and have asked anyone with information or video to come forward. As KCTV5 noted, detectives are still working to identify the woman seen in the footage, and no charges had been filed as of Thursday night.
The attempted arson highlights how fast local backlash to proposed detention facilities can escalate into direct action and criminal probes. The incident was first reported by the St. Louis Post‑Dispatch, and St. Louis Post‑Dispatch coverage included additional details about the property and the ongoing investigation.
