Sundial Apartment fire suspect turns himself in

Resident of the apartment that recieved the most damage charged with arson

  • By: Patrick Johnson  
  • Published: 11/20/2009 8:58:33 AM
  • Last Updated: 11/20/2009 3:44:51 PM
Arson suspect
The arson case against Thomas Edward Porter Jr., 29, was dismissed by the district attorney's office this month after prosecutors said they couldn't prove beyond reasonable doubt of Porter's guilt.
Police have taken into custody the man they believe is responsible for the Nov. 4 fire at Sundial Apartments.

Thomas Edward Porter Jr., 29, turned himself in to Clackamas County Sheriff deputies at the Oregon City jail at around 7 p.m. Thursday night after hearing that a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

"We had secured a warrant and were desperately trying to locate him," said Lt. Jim Strovink of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office. "We knew he initially was staying with some relatives, but we were having a hard time finding him. It was a cat and mouse game this week."

Strovink said investigators believe Porter is responsible for starting the fire that damaged Building 5 at the west Wilsonville apartment complex, located at 7925 S.W. Vlahos Drive. Strovink said Porter had no prior convictions for arson. He has been charged with first-degree arson, a Measure 11 offense which carries a mandated seven year, six month sentence.

The two-alarm fire earlier this month involved two third-floor apartments, where Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue crews from Station 52 used a 24-foot ladder to rescue three parents, a young child and an infant. Porter, a resident at the complex, lived in the unit that received the most fire damage and where investigators believe the fire started.

Fire personnel are aware of at least three fire-related incidents at that particular Sundial Apartments address, Apt. 524, a CCSO press release said.

Strovink said the investigation was conducted by a task force made up of the officials from TVF&R, the CCSO and the Oregon State Police Arson Unit.

Porter will be arraigned at 3 p.m. today (Friday).

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