Guard charged with arson in Point hotel fire

Wednesday, 25 May 2005

Linen closet fire causes about $7,000 damage at Breakers Express.

By KEVIN PURDY
kevinpurdy@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - A 21-year-old seasonal security guard has been charged with arson in connection with a fire at a Cedar Point Drive hotel Monday night.

Kevin Lewis, of Saline, Mich., was booked into Erie County Jail by Cedar Point police on a charge of aggravated arson at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, jail records state.

Two hours earlier, Sandusky firefighters had responded to Breakers Express, 1201 Cedar Point Drive, where a fire in a linen closet had triggered a fire alarm and sprinkler.

Lewis was released from Erie County Jail Tuesday afternoon on $5,000 bond. A plea hearing in his case was continued Tuesday at Sandusky Municipal Court.

Cedar Point spokesman Bryan Edwards said Lewis, a part-time security guard at Breakers Express, has been suspended without pay from his job while his criminal case is pending. Edwards did not provide details of Cedar Point's investigation or the arrest of Lewis.

Sandusky firefigthers received an automatic alarm from Breakers at about 10:26 p.m. Monday night, according to Battalion Chief Benny F. Higgenbotham. Three fire trucks, one ladder truck, an ambulance and 13 firefighters responded.

Firefighters found smoke in a room on the second floor where sheets appeared to be stored, Higgenbotham said. With an automatic sprinkler already activated, firefighters were able to bring the fire under control in five minutes and extinguish it in 10 minutes.

One employee was taken to Firelands Regional Medical Center for treatment of smoke inhalation, Higgenbotham said. Fire officials could not say Tuesday night whether that employee was Lewis.

Damage was estimated at about $5,000 to the building and $2,000 to the storage room's contents. The northwest wing of the hotel was temporarily evacuated while smoke persisted in the building.

Higgenbotham said Tuesday morning that the cause of the fire was "under investigation." Fire officials could not be reached for further comment Tuesday.

FunCoast.com is your online guide to summer fun for Cedar Point, the LakeErie Islands and Sandusky area. Our site offers up-to-date information on area attractions, restaurants, hotels, gasoline prices, ferry schedules, swimming, birding and fishing, along with a complete listing of events happening in the Sandusky/Cedar Point area. To use our Webcam and zoom in on Cedar Point's rollercoasters, go to http://funcam.funcoast.com

Copyright 2005 the Sandusky Register. All rights reserved.

All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of the Sandusky Register or FunCoast.com. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.