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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth - Police Department
Mike Ceynowa, Chief of Police
2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
For more information contact:
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
DATE: 8/25/2009
SUBJECT: Duluth Man Arrested for Arson
BY: Sgt. Rodney Wilson

NATURE OF INCIDENT: Duluth Serial Arsonist Arrested
CASE NO.: 09336077
INCIDENT DATE: 8/22/2009
INCIDENT TIME: 0754 hours
INCIDENT LOCATION: Owatonna, MN

On Saturday, August 22, 2009 Cody Lee Walker-Nelson, age 18 of Duluth was arrested by the Owatonna, MN Police Department on a Saint Louis County (Duluth) warrant for Arson in the Third Degree (felony), Arson in the Fifth Degree, and making a false emergency call.  These charges stem from fires that were started by Walker-Nelson in Duluth on August 10, 2009, and a call to 911 made by Walker-Nelson on August 16, 2009 where he reported a fire that did not exist. 

Walker-Nelson was previously convicted of Arson in the First Degree on February 2, 2009 in Saint Louis County.  Walker-Nelson was incarcerated as a result of this conviction, and was released on June 16, 2009.  He is currently on probation for this offense.

Walker-Nelson has a history of arson crimes.  Walker- Nelson has a previous arrest in Superior, Wisconsin for arson as well.  In Duluth, Walker Nelson is suspected of starting numerous fires in the East Hillside area including a string of determined arsons from October of 2008 - January of 2009.  He has used flammable liquids / accelerants, and common combustible materials as fuel for the intentionally lit fires. Fires Walker-Nelson is suspected to be responsible for are similar in nature.

Since Walker-Nelson’s release in June of this year fires have increased in the East Hillside area. Duluth Police Arson Investigator Todd Kuusisto was assigned to conduct follow up investigation into the cause of the fires. The fires were determined to be arson, and Investigator Kuusisto immediately recognized they were similar to the types of fires Walker-Nelson had started in 2008 and into early 2009.

As a result of the investigation the warrant for Walker-Nelson’s arrest was issued on August 20, 2009. When Duluth Police went to arrest him it was determined that he had left the Duluth area. Duluth police determined that Walker-Nelson was in Owatonna, MN, and he was arrested there by Owatonna Police without incident. 

 Walker-Nelson is scheduled to make his initial court appearance in Saint Louis County District Court on August 26, 2009. 

Booking photos of Walker-Nelson are available at the Saint Louis County Jail in Duluth.