Seattle police take 1 person into custody after fires set in The Jungle
Jun 6, 2016, 3:22 PM | Updated: 8:46 pm
KIRO Radio's Dave Ross wonders if President Obama's motorcade flew into Sea-Tac to avoid the "Jungle." (KIRO 7)
(KIRO 7)
Seattle police officers have taken one person into custody after a series of fires were intentionally set in “The Jungle.”
Officers have taken 1 person into custody for the fires near Jose Rizal park. Detectives continue to investigate the earlier fires as well.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) June 7, 2016
Police and fire departments investigated up to 12 fires that were set throughout the Beacon Hill greenbelt — an area also known as The Jungle.
KIRO 7 reports that police investigated the matter as the work of a “serial arsonist.”
SPD officers now searching for a serial arsonist who may have set 8 fires in the jungle area near Jose Rizal park. pic.twitter.com/7Pl7i4c33K
— Gary Horcher (@GaryKIRO7) June 7, 2016
Police responded to three fires near Jose Rizal Park — around Dearborn Street and I-5 — Monday afternoon after the Seattle Fire Department put out five other small trash fires earlier. But some reports state that up to 12 fires were set.
The fire department reports that the five initial trash fires were at various locations throughout the greenbelt. The department said that the fires were intentionally set.
Seattle police also report that more than just trash was set on fire.
“While (police) were on site it does appear that he came back and set (more) fires,” said Captain Paul McDonagh at a Monday evening press conference. “There was a vacant building that was set on fire.”
“There are a number of encampments in there, as we know, and one of them had some sort of ignition set to it,” he said.
Seattle police were looking for a 5’6″ tall white male with short hair, possibly a mohawk. The man was reportedly carrying a backpack.
SPD assisting w/traffic control as @Seattlefire fights several fires in Beacon Hill greenbelt https://t.co/9PMWumVOnk
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) June 6, 2016
Officers assisting w/ Beacon Hill fires also searching area for white male,~6’0, heavy-set, shaved head, carrying backpack. Call 911 if seen
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) June 6, 2016
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