Poplar Bluff man charged for setting dumpster fire

A Poplar Bluff man appeared in court Thursday after being charged with setting a weekend fire that damaged a dumpster and electrical generator behind Letassy Pharmacy.

Allen

Kenneth Leroy Allen Jr., 49, of the 1300 block of 10th Street appeared before Associate Circuit Judge C. Wade Pierce for arraignment on the Class E felonies of knowingly burning and first-degree property damage.

During his appearance, Allen reportedly waived formal arraignment on the charges, and the Public Defender’s Office entered an appearance in his case.

Pierce set Allen’s preliminary hearing for 1 p.m. June 27.

Allen is charged in connection with a fire that occurred at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday at the pharmacy, located at 1014 W. Pine St.

Firefighters, according to earlier reports, used 250 gallons of water to put out the fire, which involved a dumpster and wood enclosure around the container.

On Tuesday, Poplar Bluff Police Detective Andy Cleaveland, reportedly received surveillance video that showed the fire.

In the video, according to Cleaveland’s probable-cause statement, a subject, later identified as Allen, is seen walking westbound behind the business.

“The subject walked up to the satellite dish and bent it over in half,” Cleaveland said. “The subject continued walking west after doing this and entered a fenced enclosure surrounding the business’ trash dumpster.

“The video clearly showed a fire being set, and the subject exited out of the fenced enclosure.”

Allen then allegedly continued westbound, leaving the camera view.

“The dumpster quickly became engulfed in the fire, and the resulting heat and flames quickly spread to the wood fencing surrounding the dumpster,” Cleaveland said.

A business-grade electrical generator servicing the pharmacy and located near the dumpster also was damaged, Cleaveland said.

Electrical equipment, belonging to the City of Poplar Bluff and located adjacent to the dumpster, also reportedly was damaged.

Cleaveland said Allen was identified in the video by patrolmen Molly Johns and Matt Kassing, both of whom “had prior field contact” with him and “positively identified him on sight.”

On Wednesday, Cleaveland said, Allen was contacted at the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery, where he was found sleeping.

Allen subsequently was taken to the police department, where he was told of his rights.

When confronted with the allegations against him, “Allen hung his head and said that he was drunk when he did it,” Cleaveland said. “Allen further stated that he was mad because he had been kicked out of a friend’s house after he dropped a syringe” there.

After being kicked out, “Allen walked around a lot and was mad when he came across the alley way,” Cleaveland said. “Allen indicated that he had health problems and addictions.

“He further stated that he believed that Letassy may throw out pills/medications and that he was trying to see if he could possibly get something thrown out.”

Cleaveland said when Allen didn’t find anything, “he became angered. I told Allen that I didn’t think he was a monster or was trying to hurt anybody, but that the alcohol and drug use had overcome his life.”

At that point, Cleaveland said, Allen again hung his head and began to cry.

Allen subsequently was booked at the Butler County jail, where he is being held on a $20,000 cash or surety bond.