Date: July 25, 2024

Case #: 2024-00041742

Incident: Two in custody after Saturday vehicle arson 

Date / Time of Incident: July 20, 2024 / 11:10 p.m.

Location: SE Fourth and Roosevelt streets, Bend

Arrested: Cindiy Kay Kusmider, 44-year-old Bend resident
Offenses: Arson I, Criminal Mischief I, Coercion, Menacing

Arrested: Nathaniel Ryan Tatom, 37-year-old Bend resident
Offenses: Arson I, Criminal Mischief I, Coercion, Menacing 

At approximately 11:10 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, Bend Police responded to a report of a vehicle fire in the area of SE Fourth Street and SE Roosevelt Street. When officers arrived, they found a black Toyota Yaris with the passenger compartment and trunk area engulfed in flames. Officers extinguished the flames with assistance from Bend Fire. 

An investigation found that Nathaniel Tatom and Cindiy Kay Kusmider had shown up to the vehicle at about 11 p.m. to confront the vehicle’s owner, who was Tatom’s former roommate. The owner, who was sleeping in the vehicle at the time, reported that Kusmider smashed the driver’s side window of the Yaris with a baseball bat before pouring a clear liquid on the car. The car ignited in flames while the victim was inside, but the victim escaped with no injuries.  

Bend Fire investigators determined the fire was human-caused and not the result of any mechanical failure of the vehicle. 

Tatom and Kusmider fled the scene. 

On Wednesday, officers served a search warrant at Tatom’s home and vehicle in the 2600 block of Forum Drive. 

Tatom and Kusmider were taken into custody. Tatom was transported to the Deschutes County Jail on the above charges. Kusmider, who also has two warrants, reported she had ingested drugs, so she was transported to St. Charles Bend. At approximately 5:37 a.m. on Thursday, Kusmider walked out of the hospital. Officers found her in the area of NE Watt Way and Mary Rose Place, and she was returned to the hospital. She will be transported to the Deschutes County Jail on the above charges once cleared.