Man Starts Fire in Pentagon City Metro Station, Disappears Into the Mall: Police

ARLINGTON, VA — Metro Transit Police are looking for a man who they say started a fire at the Pentagon City Metro station Wednesday morning and then disappeared into the nearby mall.

Police responded to a report of a man "intentionally setting fire to personal papers" at the Metro station at around 8:15 a.m. on Oct. 5, according to Metro spokesperson Morgan Dye.

"The suspect was observed burning the material at the far south end of the inbound (Largo/Greenbelt) platform," Dye said. "The suspect then exited the station and entered the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City via the escalator to the food court."

Officers searched the area but were unable to find him. Police put out a picture of the man and a video of him standing inside one of the train cars while it was stopped at the station, in which he can be seen holding up a sign or some papers and possibly saying something to passengers.

Transit Police need your help to ID this subject who started a fire inside Pentagon City Sta this morning. Call 202-962-2121 w/info #wmata pic.twitter.com/db6CwgKQoB
— Metro Transit Police (@MetroTransitPD) October 5, 2016

Add'l re: Pentagon City burning case: VIDEO of subject holding sign on train this AM. If you saw him, pls call us at (202) 962-2121 #wmata pic.twitter.com/X1H5qUqmpf
— Metro Transit Police (@MetroTransitPD) October 5, 2016

Image via Metro Transit Police