Arson case solved
Published 11:04 pm Saturday, June 7, 2008
By Staff
BUCHANAN – Arrests have been made by the Buchanan Police Department in connection with a house fire which happened two days before Christmas last year.
The fire occurred at the three apartment house structure, at 210 E. Third Street, Buchanan, which was occupied, on that Sunday morning, Dec. 23, 2007.
For hours the Buchanan City Fire Department battled the blaze on that frigid early Sunday morning before getting the fire completely out.
This fire occurred a little over a day after Buchanan Police Officers and the Berrien County's Narcotics Unit executed a drug search warrant at this address and arrested Melinda Fisher, her brother, Michael Fisher and associates, Richard Kalus, and Michael Zimmerman on a variety of drug charges.
Melinda Fisher and Michael Fisher pleaded guilty to drug dealing charges and are serving their sentences.
At the time of the fire it was clear that the blaze was highly suspicious and most likely a case of arson however no specific information was known about who may have started the fire and why. It was believed it most likely had to do with the drug trade that was being run out of two of the three apartments. With what physical evidence officers and firefighters were able to find at the scene it was difficult to establish a suspect early on.
The subsequent investigation that went on for the months following the fire finally established a suspect and possible motive for the fire.
The primary investigator, Sgt. JT Adkerson, interviewed the suspect, 29-year-old Kenneth Patrick Brugh of 302 N. Main St., Buchanan about his involvement. During Brugh's interview Sgt. Adkerson received a confession from Brugh, that he did start the fire in the apartment.
He admitted why he started the fire. According to Brugh, shortly after the drug raid his wife, 28-year-old Nicole Brugh, broke into one of the two apartments and removed several items including a flat screen TV and a microwave.
Brugh said once he learned that his wife had stolen the items he wanted to make sure the theft couldn't be linked to her.
He decided to go to the apartment to look around and see what he could clean up. While at the apartment, he admitted to Sgt. Adkerson that he threw down a cigarette he was smoking and the fire immediately became out of control.
He walked from the apartment's front door and disappeared down Third Street with the knowledge that someone still remained upstairs in the building. The upstairs resident, Stephen Holdeman, woke up by the sound of a person leaving the downstairs apartment. Seconds later the resident heard the smoke alarms going off and he saw and smelled smoke. He was able to get out of the structure with only the clothes on his back. He lost many personal possessions, but survived the fire.
The Buchanan Police Department submitted its investigation to the court and after review a Judge issued arrest warrants for Kenneth and Nicole Brugh for a variety of charges.
On May 21, officers located both individuals and lodged them in jail. Recently both individuals pled guilty in 5th District Court. Kenneth pled guilty to arson, a 20 year felony, and Nicole pled to one count of home invasion. Their sentencing is scheduled for July.
"This was a difficult and lengthy investigation and I thank the public for their willingness to provide the needed information to solve this case," Buchanan Fire Chief Marx said.