Area firefighter arrested and charged

A firefighter with the Northern Wright County Fire Department has been arrested and later charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in property damage exceeding $1,000.
Joseph Garrison Sr., of Mountain Grove, was arrested by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office back on Sep. 20 due to his actions while operating a fire engine during a brush fire in the area of Bath Road and Ellis Road.
According to a probable cause statement, a Wright County deputy observed property damage to an archway gate that had red paint transfer. A drainage pipe was also bent and a tree was broken in the area.
He was informed by Northern Wright County Fire Chief Bill Dodds that Garrison, Sr. was responsible for the damage and does not have a driver’s license and should not have been driving the fire engine.
In his report, the sheriff’s deputy noted he has been on a call previously with Garrison and he believed Garrison may have arrived intoxicated at the scene of an accident.
Garrison, Sr. reportedly claims he backed into the ditch and had not struck anything.
The report goes on to say he backed into his wife’ vehicle, which caused the damage for the fire engine.
Both Chief Dodds and the deputy observed the truck and the damage did not seem to be consistent with backing into another vehicle due to how high the damage was.
Estimated damage to the fire truck is $5,000.
Upon arrival at Garrison Sr.’s home, the deputy described him as being in an intoxicated condition and smells of an alcoholic beverage.
Garrison Sr. said he did back into a ditch, but did not contact the property owner.
He also said he drove the fire engine that day because he was the only one who could drive it.
Upon retrieving a breath sample, Garrison Sr.’s blood alcohol content was .174, which is twice the legal limit in Missouri.
He is being held in Wright County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
A preliminary hearing is slated for early Wednesday, Oct. 14.