Case Number: 2020-00117545
Date and Time of Incident: Monday, October 19, 2020 at approximately 03:09 AM
Type of Incident: Assault, Arson, Criminal Mischief by same suspect
Location of Incident: Transient encampment, Hunnell Road between Loco Road and Cooley Road
Victim of Assault/Arson: Misty Andresen, 36-year old Bend Resident (transient)
Victim of Criminal Mischief 1: Advanced Commercial Cleaning on Empire Avenue (see photo)
Victim of Criminal Mischief 2: Brock Olson, 66-year old Bend Resident
Suspect/Arrestee: Elizabeth Butler, 32-year old Bend Resident (transient)
Victim Vehicle (Arson): Winnebago Chieftain Motor Home (total loss) (see photos)
Victim Vehicle (Criminal Mischief): 2014 Audi Q5
Crimes: Assault in the First Degree
Arson in the First Degree
Criminal Mischief in the First Degree
Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree
Unlawful use of a weapon
NARRATIVE:
On Monday, October 19th, 2020 about 0309 hours Deschutes County 9-1-1 dispatch center received a 9-1-1 call from a citizen reporting a woman had come to their motor home at a transient camp on Hunnell Road between Cooley Road and Loco Road within the city of Bend, to report she had been assaulted with a bat and the suspect had lit her motor home on fire. The suspect had reportedly fled the area on foot. The female victim had run to a neighboring motor home to get help and to have police contacted. Bend Police as well as Bend Fire and Rescue and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded immediately.
Upon arrival officers found an older Winnebago Chieftain motor home was fully engulfed with flames. It was believed all occupants were out of the motor home. Officers contacted the alleged victim and she was identified as 36-year old Bend resident Misty Andresen. Andresen told officers she had allowed a neighboring transient, Elizabeth Butler, an acquaintance, to sleep in her motor home for the night because it was going to be cold out and Butler sleeps in a tent. Andresen slept in the rear of the motor home while Butler slept in the front. Sometime around 0300 hours Andresen awoke to the smell of smoke. She looked out to the main cabin of the motor home and found there was a blanket on fire. She grabbed the blanket and began dragging it out the side door when she was attacked from behind. Andresen was struck in the back of the head, the back and the left arm multiple times by a metal baseball bat being swung by Butler. Andresen had no idea as to why Butler was attacking her. Andresen fell out onto the sidewalk and dropped the burning blanket. She then ran to a neighboring motor home to get help. Paramedics responded to treat Andresen. She was transported by ambulance to St Charles Medical Center in Bend where she is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Another Bend Police Officer who was responding to the fire and assault witnessed a female bashing out the window of a business in the area of Empire and Jamison with a baseball bat (Advanced Commercial Cleaning). As the officer turned around to go contact the female the officer saw the woman begin beating on the window and door of a parked Audi Q5 with the baseball bat (belonging to Olson). The officer contacted the woman and gave her verbal commands to drop the bat. Initially the woman did not comply. She eventually dropped the bat and was taken into custody without incident. Her clothing was singed, at which time the officer realized the woman with the bat was the suspect from the fire and assault. Her clothing and the bat were seized as evidence in the crimes. She was taken to the Deschutes County Adult Jail in Bend, where it was discovered she had superficial burn marks to the backs of her legs. She was treated by staff at the jail and lodged on the listed charges.
It was later learned that Butler had been given a ride by another neighboring transient to the area of 3rd and Empire. Butler had told this witness that someone had a gun and she needed help so they dropped her off near the sheriff’s office. It is believed that drugs are a factor in this incident.
A Bend Fire Arson Investigator responded to the scene. Their investigation is ongoing.
The Bend Police Department would like to thank Bend Fire and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.