The Oregonian
FOREST GROVE, Ore. — Police on Friday arrested a 29-year-old man who they say earlier this week set a small fire on a Forest Grove porch, then greeted responding firefighters with a hammer and a knife.
Reuven Josiah Miller was at a North Plains business Friday when police took him into custody without incident, said Forest Grove Police Capt. Mike Herb. Miller was arrested under accusations of first-degree arson, and he could face additional charges, Herb said. Miller was booked into Washington County Jail.
Five days earlier, firefighters say they had a bizarre encounter with Miller. At about 1:45 p.m. on Monday, a neighbor of a house in the 1400 block of Larch Street reported that it was on fire. Firefighters arrived to discover a small fire on the porch and lawn of the home, Forest Grove Fire spokesman Dave Nemeyer said.
Nemeyer, who was one of the first firefighters to arrive, said firefighters saw Miller throwing gas cans out of the garage and in the direction of the fire. Miller next was seen with a hammer in one hand and a knife in the other, Nemeyer said.
Nemeyer said Miller didn’t say anything to firefighters, who had given him plenty of space. Miller stabbed the knife into the wooden railing of the porch, then got into his Toyota Camry and drove off, Nemeyer said.
At that point, firefighters put out the 5-by-5 foot fire. They put out a public plea for help in finding Miller.
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