Concerned residents tie man suspected of starting fires to a tree, Oregon cops say

After fires broke out in an Oregon town, concerned residents took it upon themselves to catch the suspect.

Fires started in Mariel, about 250 miles south of Portland, on Monday, July 25, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office said. The fires were started near the Rogue River Ranch and Mariel Lodge, and the area is only accessible by river or Forest Service roads.

A Bureau of Land Management worker reported seeing a man walking up a gravel road and starting fires in the area.

Firefighters from several agencies rushed to the area, the sheriff’s office said.

“Three helicopters were dispatched by (the Oregon Department of Forestry) while ground crews including residents of the area quickly got the two fires under control and contained,” deputies said in a news release.

Three concerned residents crossed paths with someone who matched the suspect’s description. The man was walking on a road near the fires, and the residents detained him until authorities could arrive, officials said.

The residents tied the man to a tree after he “became very combative,” officials said.

An ambulance crew and authorities arrived at the scene and identified the man as a 30-year-old from Veneta, Oregon. The man was injured after falling down and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

“Once he was medically cleared, he was transported by USFS law enforcement to the Curry County Jail,” the sheriff’s office said.

He’s been charged with two counts of first-degree arson and reckless burning, authorities said.

This story was originally published July 27, 2022 at 12:21 PM with the headline "Concerned residents tie man suspected of starting fires to a tree, Oregon cops say."