Inmate charged with arson in 2024 Saline County Jail fire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An inmate has been accused of setting a fire at the Saline County Jail in that caused a number of inmates to be displaced in January 2024 has been charged. 4

Jonnie Grimes, 41, was charged with first-degree arson, having a weapon at a jail and first-degree property damage. He is being held at Ozark Correctional Center and is serving a three-year sentence after he pleaded guilty on Dec. 11, 2023 to tampering with electronic monitoring equipment.

The probable cause statement says that a fire was started in the southeast corner of the work release pod and that Grimes was the only inmate carrying personal items. Video allegedly show Grimes grab a basket while other inmates were sleeping and move to the corner, the statement says.

The top of Grimes’ head was allegedly seen on video the same time a flash occurred from the same area, the statement says. He was then allegedly seen carrying the items on video, the statement says. He was transferred to Pettis County and was found with a lighter, the statement says.