Investigators say gasoline was poured and ignited inside the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Northside lobby on Friday afternoon.
MIAMI, FL — A Miami Beach woman was arrested Friday after authorities say she set a small fire inside the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Northside District Station, prompting a rapid evacuation and response but no injuries. Deputies detained the suspect outside moments later, and a judge ordered her held without bond over the weekend.
Officials identified the suspect as 36-year-old Towana Cassandra Findlay. She is charged with 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and one count of first-degree arson. The case remains under investigation by the sheriff’s arson unit alongside Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and federal partners. The incident comes as the Northside station resumes normal operations, and authorities review security measures and evidence from the scene. Investigators have not publicly released a motive, and they say the woman invoked her rights after being taken into custody.
Deputies said the fire began in the lobby shortly before 2:30 p.m. at the Northside District Station at 799 NW 81st St. Witnesses told investigators a woman entered carrying a bag and set down her belongings before pouring liquid across part of the counter and floor. A deputy in the lobby radioed for backup as the liquid was ignited, sending a burst of flame across the surface. “It is outrageous. It is absolutely outrageous that this is happening,” South Florida Police Benevolent Association President Steadman Stahl said in an interview, calling the incident troubling for officers and the public who use the building. The flames were extinguished within moments with a fire extinguisher kept at the station, and firefighters arrived as a precaution to ensure the fire did not reignite.
Investigators said the liquid was gasoline. According to an arrest report described in court, the woman had visited a nearby Exxon on NE 79th Street earlier that afternoon, bought Tampico juice containers, emptied them outside and prepaid $5 for fuel to fill at least one of the jugs. Deputies said a “red lighter” was used to spark the blaze. After the fire flashed, the woman left the building on foot and was detained outside without further confrontation. Authorities said the station’s alarm activated, personnel evacuated, and the building was checked for hazards. No injuries to deputies, staff or visitors were reported, and interior damage was limited to the scorched lobby area.
In weekend bond court, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Abby Cynamon called the counts “first-degree felony” charges and ordered pretrial detention. “There will be no bond,” Cynamon said from the bench. Findlay, who appeared via video from jail, told the court she planned to represent herself and stated, “I plead guilty.” The judge said a plea could not be accepted at a bond hearing. Court records show the defendant was ordered to have no contact with the Northside station or employees and to remain at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center while prosecutors prepare formal charging documents.
The sheriff’s office arson unit is leading the case, with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue investigators and the Sheriff’s Homeland Security Bureau assisting. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded to review the fire scene and collect samples. Officials said surveillance video from the station and nearby businesses is being preserved, though none has been publicly released. Detectives said they are still working to establish a timeline from the gas station purchase to the moment the flame was set in the lobby and to determine whether anyone else was aware of the plan.
Authorities said they have not identified a motive. Records presented in court did not detail prior calls for service involving the suspect at the Northside facility. The station itself serves neighborhoods in the city’s north central area and typically sees walk-in traffic for reports, records and community services. On Saturday, union officials said front-desk staff and deputies acted quickly, with one deputy grabbing the nearest extinguisher as others cleared the lobby. “Luckily the officer was able to get out from behind the counter and get the building evacuated,” Stahl said. He added that the station reopened Monday after safety checks.
Deputies described the ignition as brief but dangerous because gasoline vapors can flash across surfaces inside confined spaces. The small lobby area includes a service counter, chairs and secured doors leading to internal offices. The sheriff’s office said the extinguisher discharge and fast response reduced the fire to a scorched patch at the counter and floor. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews used thermal imaging to verify there were no hot spots behind panels or under flooring. The building’s fire alarm and suppression equipment functioned as designed, according to officials familiar with the response. No structural damage requiring closure was reported after inspections.
Findlay’s jail booking lists her age as thirty-six and residence as Miami Beach. Investigators said she declined to speak with detectives after her arrest. The State Attorney’s Office is reviewing the arrest affidavit and evidence to determine the precise charging language and whether to present the case to a grand jury. Prosecutors often consult with arson investigators and ATF about laboratory findings, such as accelerant confirmation and burn pattern analysis, before filing any amended counts. The case will be set on a criminal court calendar for an arraignment date, at which the defendant will enter a formal plea through counsel or on her own if she persists in self-representation.
At the gas station on NE 79th Street, employees told authorities they recognized the woman from security video purchasing juice and fuel. Investigators noted the prepaid $5 transaction and the use of plastic jugs. The arrest paperwork described the containers as emptied juice gallons, which were then carried into the Northside station lobby. A deputy who witnessed the pouring and ignition provided an on-scene statement, according to officials briefed on the report. Fire investigators photographed the burn area, collected the lighter, and sealed debris for lab testing. Those procedures are routine in suspected arson cases, which hinge on confirming an ignitable liquid and ruling out accidental sources such as electrical faults.
Arson at government facilities is rare but carries steep penalties in Florida, especially when people are present. Attempted murder counts can be charged when prosecutors allege a deadly act targeted people inside a building. In this case, the 11 counts reflect personnel present at the time, according to officials. The Northside station serves a busy stretch near NW 81st Street and NW 8th Avenue. On Monday morning, routine activity resumed at the front desk, with visitors coming in for reports and records. A char mark near the counter had been cleaned and covered, and a lingering odor had dissipated, a union representative said.
What happens next will turn on court scheduling. Prosecutors are expected to file a “no bond” hold order in writing and to set an arraignment date in the coming weeks. Defense counsel could be appointed if the court finds the defendant indigent or unfit to represent herself. Investigators are likely to complete interviews with lobby staff and to obtain full-quality surveillance video from the station and the gas station. Any additional charges would be filed before arraignment. The sheriff’s office said any future updates will come after lab results and a full investigative report are submitted.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Findlay remained in county jail with a hold on all 12 counts. The station lobby has reopened, and the agencies involved say their reports are ongoing. The next public milestone is expected when prosecutors file formal charges and set an arraignment date.
Author note: Last updated January 27, 2026.