TUTWILER — An April 11 fire that inflicted heavy damage on the Dollar General store here was deliberately set, according to a local lawman involved with the investigation.
In response to a Sun-Sentinel text message Tuesday afternoon, Tutwiler Police Investigator Carlos Thompson said the discount store fire was an act of arson. He did not immediately reply when asked if authorities have a suspect in the crime.
Tutwiler Police Investigator Carlos Thompson
The Tutwiler Police Department and the Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office have been investigating the incident.
Arson had been rumored as a strong possibility from the start, but there had been no confirmation until Thompson.
Dollar General Corporation Public Relations did not respond by press time to an email seeking an update on the status of the Tutwiler store. On April 12, that office issued a statement saying more information was expected to be available at the conclusion of the damage assessment.
The Tutwiler store was the second Dollar General in Tallahatchie County to be targeted by an arsonist.
On Sept. 30, 2022, the Dollar General store in nearby Webb burned in a fire later ruled arson.
No arrest has been made in connection with the Webb fire.
The Webb store, which was so badly damaged that it had to be razed, is presently being rebuilt.
Construction began in late March.
Webb Mayor Michael Plez said last week that good progress is being made on the project.
Webb Mayor Michael Plez
Plez said he was initially told that work on the Webb store might be completed by late June.
“That’s old news, probably dating back two months, so I will have to call and confirm the date that they probably will have the store ready to be reopened,” Plez noted.
Both the Tutwiler and Webb Dollar General stores offered a wide variety of food items. In their absence, Plez said the Farmacy Marketplace grocery store that opened in his town shortly after the Webb fire has “definitely been a blessing.”
Dollar General also operates another store in Tallahatchie County at Charleston.
