Arson arrest
A 32-year-old Port Orchard woman was charged with second-degree arson in Kitsap County Superior Court Sept. 12.
Bail was set at $50,000. She faces 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Kitsap sheriff’s reports say Aug. 6 at 11:30 a.m. South Kitsap Fire and Rescue responded to a house fire in the 3300 block of Menzies Road SE in Port Orchard. A woman was yelling near the south portion of the house stuck in blackberry bushes. She said after the fire started she jumped out of the house into the blackberries. She only had on underwear and had injuries to her face, arms and legs.
Officials said she smelled of gas and indicated orange coloring on her body was the same as what was spray painted on the side of the house and on the victim’s truck. There were also tiki and plumber’s torches in the front yard and several spray paint cans.
The victim said he and the woman had broken up about a week before. He claimed she has mental health and drug problems. He had been at a casino the previous night for his birthday, headed home to take care of his dog Max and found his house on fire and truck damaged. He said she had told him, “If I’m going to be homeless, you’re going to be homeless.” His dog was found at a nearby house.
The suspect later said she had used gas to burn stuff in a fire pit outside, then went inside and lit a cigarette. She apparently had spilled gas on herself as her clothes caught fire. The victim said the man who had his dog had been helping the suspect. That man said the suspect may have injected Max with meth. That man also said she had injected her own dog also and had deliberately poured gas on herself.
Another arson
A 40-year-old Port Orchard man was in Superior Court Sept. 11 facing charges of second-degree arson.
Bail was set at $100,000. He faces 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.
Kitsap sheriff’s papers say at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 6, they received a phone call from fire marshal Matthew Bryant. He said a suspect had been identified, and there was potential evidence at the scene of a fire. The victim had set up infrared cameras at night as he had had two previous fires there this summer.
Photos show a man towing a four-wheeled cart. In the cart was a cooler and a bag, which ended up containing a dead cat and some garbage. A cigarette butt was obtained for evidence. The fires occurred on land filled with timber and undergrowth. On Sept. 9 there was another fire. The suspect had a backpack and head flashlight. The suspect was arrested with a Bic-style lighter. The man, who lives with his mom, said she dropped him off, and he got cold so he started a fire to keep warm.
Theft attempt
A 58-year-old Puyallup man was in Superior Court Sept. 11 on charges of attempted theft in the first degree.
Bail was $50,000. He faces 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Sheriff’s papers say he was arrested for shoplifting in the 109000 block of Silverdale Way. The store manager said two masked men tried to steal a John Deere tractor, but were chased away by employees. Later, employees saw the truck they had arrived in.
$175K bail
A 43-year-old Bellevue man was in Superior Court on $175,000 bail Aug, 17 after a bench warrant was returned.
He was charged June 13, 2022, with second-degree assault. He faces 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Kitsap sheriff’s reports say on June 12, 2022 at 3:12 p.m. there was a report of an altercation with a gun in the 4700 block of Johnston Road. The deputy had been there an hour before, and there had been ongoing 911 calls there.
The woman there said a man arrived and demanded his daughter. The woman said the man tried to push his way into the residence and blew smoke in her face. She told him to leave and called 911. A neighbor said he heard arguing and mention of a gun but never saw one. The daughter and another witness said they did see a gun. The suspect said he had had a gun earlier, but did not point it at anybody.
Unlawful possession
A 44-year-old Bremerton man was in Superior Court Sept. 13 on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Bail was $50,000. He faces 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.
Bremerton police reports say on Sept. 11 at 8:15 p.m. an officer saw a vehicle in a no parking zone. As he approached a man jumped out of the driver’s seat and ran off. The officer noticed a handgun under the seat. He then found out the rental car was supposed to be returned seven months ago.
A wallet in the vehicle gave the name of the suspect, who is a four-time convicted felon. The officer arrested the suspect the next day at a traffic stop.
