This press release is from the Portland Fire Investigations Unit, a collaboration between Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) and the Portland Police Bureau (PPB).
The Portland Fire Investigations Unit is investigating the December 31, 2022 fire to the Bank of America, 3757 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, as arson. The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are also investigating this incident in an interagency partnership.
In an effort to further the investigation, surveillance images of the suspect are being released. If anyone has information about this person, or the case, please contact PPB Detective Meredith Hopper at Meredith.Hopper@police.portlandoregon.gov or call the PF&R Fire Investigation Unit’s tip line, 503-823- FIRE (3473). Please reference PPB case number 22-345266 and PF&R case number 22-136888.
Investigators are aware that there is a social media post taking responsibility for the crime. We cannot verify the authenticity of the claim at this time. Investigators will consider any potential evidence in their effort to determine who is responsible. However, if anyone has more information about the post and the person who made it, they're asked to contact us.
A $25,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction related to this arson.
No further information is being released at this stage in the investigation.
The Portland Fire Investigations Unit comprises fire investigators with Portland Fire & Rescue (who are sworn law enforcement officers) and a detective with the Portland Police Bureau. The collaboration leverages the specialized training and skills needed to investigate fires, including analysis equipment and accelerant detecting dogs.
Photo descriptions:
1-Suspect wearing a grey or black hoodie with the word "MONTANA" displayed on the front, blue hat with a gray brim, tan covered facemask, peers through a shattered glass door.
2-Suspect seen from the side with grayish pants, carrying a bag with a red-and-white target symbol
3-Better quality image of the sweatshirt design
###PPB/PF&R###
Original Message from Portland Fire & Rescue:
https://www.portlandoregon.gov/fire/news/read.cfm?id=452677
December 31, 2022 05:35
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At 3:13 AM, crews from Portland Fire & Rescue were called to 37th and Hawthorne on a report of a commercial fire. The first arriving company reported seeing smoke from the front door of a one-story building as police were requested for traffic control.
Once inside, crews encountered multiple hot spots and a basement not affected by the fire. Crews were also able to ladder the roof to look for a possible extension of the fire spread.
As crews fought the fire from inside, a 2nd alarm was called to assist crews on site with fire extinguishment.
The fire was extinguished, the incident was recalled at approximately 4:30 AM with crews remaining on the scene, and 2nd alarm companies returned to quarters.
This fire is currently under investigation by the Portland Fire Investigations Unit.