Suspect Allegedly Sets Fire To Mayor’s Garage And Flees, Authorities Investigate Arson Attack

An alleged arsonist who attempted to set fire to the home of Vancouver, Washington’s Mayor was arrested on Sept 7. Police and fire authorities previously launched an investigation after a suspect set fire near the garage of Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle’s home on F Street around 9:30 p.m., Monday.

Police said that the suspect was approached by the homeowner while attempting to start the fire, then fled the scene on foot. Aiden Murray was apprehended after surveillance video captured him trying to rob a local business establishment. Murray was arrested without incident.

According to The Columbian, the fire was dispersed by the homeowners and no fatalities, assaults, or injuries at the scene were reported by the police. Portland authorities said that while the suspect was still at large and cops set up containment with K9 units to assist in the search. As yet, no new details have been released other than that it was the mayor’s husband Terry Ogle who confronted the arson suspect.

The suspect is currently being held at the Clark County Jail on arson and other charges. The incident at the Mayor's home followed a recent break-in on Sunday where the mayor said sever items had been stolen from their home.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, another man also wanted for arson was arrested by the police on Wednesday after discovering 150 milk jugs filled with gasoline in a home in west Philadelphia last month.

Reports from the U.S. Marshals Service provided to NBC Philidelphia, said the suspect, identified as 37- year-old Darren Arnold, was wanted for multiple fires that occurred on the 100 block of North 59th Street in August.

At the same block, police discovered 154, one-gallon milk jugs filled with gasoline in an abandoned, partially burned home on Aug 1. Police found the stash after a 911 call reported a strong smell of gasoline coming from inside the house. The police who reported the incident called it a very dangerous yet bizarre case.

Firefighters said that the jugs were emptied and disposed of after the discovery. The following day, a fire had broken out in a rowhome. Authorities said that it was unclear what caused the fire however firefighters noted that they had the fire under control but a family of seven was forced to evacuate to escape the blazing inferno. Two other adjacent rowhomes were also investigated by authorities for any signs of fire damage.

On Aug 7, another fire broke out, this time at the home of the suspect’s mother, prompting police to seek out help from the public to locate Arnold. Witnesses recalled seeing Arnold standing outside the house during the Aug 1 incident, drinking beer. Neighbors spotted Arnold again in the early hours of Aug 7, shortly after the second fire broke out, in the back of the rowhome. Witnesses said that Arnold lived in the home before a fire broke out in March, and it has been vacant ever since.