Insurance letter alleges Vienna Pointe fire was started by deputy’s cigarette; sheriff says dispatch logs refute claim
Olivia Hayes
VIENNA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Maries County Sheriff’s Office deputy is being accused of playing a role in the total loss fire at an assisted living facility back in August.
The Vienna Pointe facility caught fire in the early morning hours of Aug. 7. ABC 17 News obtained a letter sent to the sheriff’s department by insurance representatives for Vienna Pointe in September.
The letter said surveillance footage showed a cigarette that was improperly put out — by someone they believed to be a sheriff’s deputy — started the fire.
In a response letter, Sheriff Mark Morgan said dispatch logs show no deputies were at Vienna Pointe that night in the hours leading up to the fire.
“My first thought is I go back and I look at our logs,” Morgan said. “I did discover a call. We sent a deputy, however, the deputy was disregarded approximately 30 to 40 seconds after he went in route.”
The call Morgan discovered in the dispatch logs was a 911 hang up call, about 90 minutes before the fire started.
“But the sheriff’s department did not respond to that call, the Vienna PD responded to the 911 hang up,” Morgan said.
Sheriff’s deputies were on scene after the fire had started. However once on scene, Morgan said deputies only assisted with traffic control along surrounding streets.
“Our response is to pretty much assist the fire departments with whatever they need,” Morgan said.
Since sending his letter more than a month ago, Morgan has not received a response back. He also said he never received the surveillance footage, or a photo, of the person Vienna Pointe representatives believe to be a sheriff’s deputy.
“I would attempt to identify whoever they think is a county employee,” Morgan said. “But they’ve not sent me anything, nor have they requested any records or anything from us.”
A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Public Safety told ABC 17 News the cause of the fire remains under investigation.