By KATIE JOHNSON
Edwardsburg Argus

The Michigan State Police Niles post has located a vehicle seen in the vicinity of the Legends Bar & Grill fire Oct. 26.

The vehicle, described as a sport-utility vehicle in the style of Ford Explorer or Jeep Cherokee, was found to belong to a Mishawaka man. The police were asking the public’s help to find the vehicle of interest.

According to a release from the Niles post, “…(the owner of the vehicle) promptly retained an attorney and has declined a request for an interview. The investigation continues and we continue to ask that tips be called in to the Michigan State Police.”

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 and 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 is asked to contact the Michigan State Police Niles post at (269) 683-4411.