Portland police are searching for a man accused of setting fire to a Big Apple convenience store on Park Avenue Sunday night.

A clerk told police that a man entered the store at about 10 p.m. and was refused service. The police report does not indicate whether the refusal was because the man was intoxicated or if there was some other reason.

The man returned at about 10:30 p.m. with a gas can, poured a flammable liquid outside and then inside the front door and lit it, police said.

The fire burned but it was put out quickly and the damage to the store was not significant. Nobody was injured.

The man is described as in his 30s or 40s, 5 feet 5 inches tall, with a beard, wearing jeans and a green winter coat, police said.

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact the Portland Police Department at 874-8596.

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