By KATIE JOHNSON
Dowagiac Daily News

EDWARDSBURG – The Michigan State Police Niles post is asking for the public’s help in identifying a vehicle of interest in the vicinity of the Legends Bar and Grill fire Oct. 26.

The vehicle is described as a sport-utility vehicle in the style of a Ford Explorer or Jeep Cherokee.

It is believed to have been dark in color with white- or tan-colored front fender panels.
It is unknown how many people occupied the vehicle at the time of the fire.

The vehicle of interest came from a surveillance video taken at 1:48 a.m. Oct. 26 labeled “East Parking N.”

An SUV is shown parked in close proximity to Legends, which is engulfed in flames.
Det. Sgt. Fabian Suarez, of the Niles post, would not reveal the source of the surveillance video, which appears to have been taken across a parking lot or street from Legends.

Suarez said Monday that officials are still interviewing Legends employees or anyone else who may have information about the fire, which began early in the morning Oct. 26 and destroyed the business.

Owner Troy Treat had been in the process of selling the business, and a sign erected overnight outside the business indicated it was under new management.

The cause of the fire has been determined as arson.

Police are still waiting for results from the state fire marshal’s investigation, Suarez said.

The detective emphasizes the owner or driver of the vehicle is not necessarily a suspect in the fire.

“I’m not saying it was involved,” Suarez said.

Anyone who may have information pertaining to the fire investigation, or knows of a vehicle that may fit the description of the vehicle in question, is asked to contact the Michigan State Police Niles post at (269) 683-4411.