By Brian Livingston
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN, Miss. — Arson is suspected in an early morning Wednesday fire that destroyed the home of a Lauderdale County Sheriff’s deputy.
Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie said fire investigators determined there were indications that the fire was deliberately set at the home of Deputy Jason Wiggins while he and his family were out of town.
“Investigators with the department, the Mississippi State Fire Marshall’s Office, and the Lauderdale County Fire Service conducted an investigation later Wednesday and some evidence we believe may point toward arson was collected and sent to the state crime lab,” Sollie said. “I would have to say I’m leaning toward the fire being an act of arson at this time.”
Allan Dover, Lauderdale County Fire Service Coordinator, would not go as far as to say the fire was deliberately set but instead wanted to get confirmation from the crime lab.
“We have sent samples to the crime lab but there is no way we could get any results back this soon,” Dover said Thursday afternoon. “I’m going to wait until I see those results before I categorize this incident.”
Officially, Dover would only say the incident is still under investigation pending the outcome of those test results. He said he had no timetable as to when he would get the results back from the crime lab.
Volunteer fire stations from Causeyville, Vimville, and Whynot were called around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday to the Wiggins home at 380 Harper Road. When firefighters arrived on the scene they found the home engulfed in smoke and the flames shooting from the southern end of the home. The fire was quickly knocked down and fire crews worked to put out hotspots but the overall damage to the home was extensive.
Authorities at the scene said the Wiggins family was out of town for a short getaway and were not at the residence when the fire broke out.
If this is ruled an arson by state officials, this would mark the second incident in less than a week in which the Wiggins family has been made a target by someone.
Friday, Wiggin’s father, who lives around the corner from his son’s home, was the subject of what LCSD Chief Dep. Ward Calhoun said at the time was a “targeted incident” in which a black man kicked in the front door and exchanged gunfire with Wiggins’ father. No one was hit by the nine shots fired but a suspect is being sought by LCSD investigators in the case.
Sheriff’s authorities would not say why they believe the elder Wiggins was the apparent target of the shooter.
Sollie, Thursday afternoon, didn’t go as far as to say the two incidents were connected but he didn’t totally rule out the possibility either.
“If the crime lab confirms arson, then isn’t it strange the same family would be the subject of two violent acts in such a short period of time?” Sollie asked. “If it is arson then I have to believe there is a connection somewhere. No matter the outcome, we are determined to find out who is behind this.”
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(c)2014 The Meridian Star (Meridian, Miss.)
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