Hassett Title open; police make progress in arson case

Hassett Title Company remains open for business despite its downtown office sustaining extensive damage from a firebombing incident earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Monroe Police detectives have made progress in the investigation but so far no arrests have been made.

Bill Hassett, owner of the title insurance agency that was founded in 1988, said he remains open and is planning to move to a temporary office just down the street.

“We’re still in business,” he said.

By next week, Hassett said he is planning to move operations a short distance to the second floor of the Landmark Building at 23 E. Front Street. Hassett is at 33 E. Front. The business’ phone number remains (734) 242-9393.

Hassett said the damage from the firebombing was extensive. He said it could take six months to repair the office before moving back to the original site.

Earlier news report: Suspects sought in downtown Monroe business firebombing

Around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, someone threw a rock through the title company’s downtown window. Seconds later, flames flared up inside the office. A passerby noticed the fire and contacted authorities.

It was the second threat targeting the business in recent days. On March 14, police said an unknown male subject put an envelope in the door claiming contents of the envelope was harmful. It also stated there was bomb inside the building.

Those threats were investigated with the FBI and it was determined that the contents of the envelope did not contain a harmful substance and there were no explosive devices inside the office.

Since the investigation began, detectives have made progress, said Capt. J.D. Wall.

“We are following up on leads,” Wall said. “There is information we’re working on.”

Anyone with information pertaining to the incidents is asked to contact the Detective Michael Merkle at (734) 243-7517.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Hassett Title open; police make progress in arson case