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Updated: 8:24 PM Jul 6, 2009
"Discount Dave" Fights Arson Case
Discount Dave's owner Dave Sheets says his independent investigation team found the May 3 fire was caused by an explosion. Discount Dave's owner Dave Sheets says his independent investigation team found the May 3 fire was caused by an explosion. Posted: 5:22 PM Jul 6, 2009Reporter: Tiffany Teasley Email Address: Tiffany.Teasley@wilx.com |
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The fire at Discount Dave's was extinguished months ago, yet a battle still continues over the blaze.
"This fire department -- Lansing, has not done a complete investigation," said Discount Dave's owner, Dave Sheets.
Sheets says two of his insurance companies, Farmers Insurance and Auto-Owners Insurance, both found the fire was not intentionally set, and he says his independent investigation team in Bellevue found evidence pointing to a different cause.
"We've discovered there was some sort of explosion down there, appliances are tipped over, there were 60 appliances down there, 14 of them are laying on their sides," Sheets said.
But they don't know what caused that alleged explosion, in the meantime Sheet's attorney says they filed a Freedom of Information Act request to the city for the Fire Marshal's lab reports.
"The city has informed us that our FOIA request has been denied," said Attorney Charles Ford.
That's because the city says the investigation on the site is complete, now the criminal investigation is underway.
"We have determined the fire was intentionally set, and now we're proceeding with the criminal investigation," said Lansing City Attorney Brig Smith.
And while the city has released the site back to the owner, Smith says the rubble is a health hazard that needs to be removed quickly.
"There's standing water, noxious fumes and the city has the right and the duty to clean it up, now we prefer to work with the owner," Smith said.
But Sheet's attorney has issued a Temporary Restraining Order against the city so evidence isn't compromised for their investigation.
"And that Temporary Restraining Order was granted so that the city could not now come to the premises and remove any debris," Ford said.
The Temporary Restraining Order expires July 16 at which time attorneys for the City of Lansing and Dave Sheets will appear in circuit court for a hearing on the matter.
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