After months of investigation, a devastating mill fire in Vernon is now being deemed suspicious. Right now, police are looking for a dark-colored pick-up truck they say could be connected.
Police are asking for the public's help to identify a vehicle that was seen near a Vernon mill last December before a massive fire destroyed the building and investigators are now calling the fire suspicious.
Firefighters responded to a warehouse fire in the Rockville section of town around 2 a.m. on Dec. 12, 2022. The fire was at a textile mill at the corner of Brooklyn Street and Vernon Avenue.
The building that burned was a large warehouse. The structure was built in 1862 and had several owners over the years, according to Vernon officials. It was the location for Crystal Tool & Machine.
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Police have been investigating the fire since it happened. On Tuesday, they asked for the public's help identifying a vehicle that could have been involved in the fire.
The vehicle is described as a pick-up truck that is dark-colored. It appears to be blue or green and may be a Dodge Ram, though police do not know for sure.
In a home video police obtained, they said the vehicle circles around the mill a few times and is seen leaving shortly after the fire was set.
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At one point in the video, authorities said you can see two people exit from the vehicle and it appears that they went into the mill minutes before the fire started.
Investigators described the fire as being one of the biggest the town has ever experienced. At this time, the building is still in ruins.
Police are calling the fire suspicious and are working to determine if it was arson. If it was arson, authorities want to arrest and convict the person or people responsible. A reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
Anyone with information on the vehicle, its occupants or the fire should contact Vernon Police Detective Mike Patrizz at (860) 872-9126 ext. 3763. Tips can also be called into the Connecticut Arson Tip Line at 1-800-84ARSON.
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