ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) - A man faces arson charges after vending machines were set ablaze at two Oregon hotels and a laundry business.
Roseburg police say the fires happened early Tuesday and the suspect - 32-year-old Jason Deschenes of Vancouver, Washington - was arrested at a Walmart store.
Police say the first fire was reported at 1:40 a.m. at T&D Coin Laundry in Riddle. Video showed a suspect igniting a Pepsi vending machine to steal coins inside.
Similar blazes later occurred at the Leisure Inn in Canyonville and a Holiday Inn in Roseburg, and authorities identified Deschenes as the suspect.
Lt. Patrick Moore said Deschenes confessed to setting the fires and then exchanging stolen coins at Walmart for $26 in cash. Moore said the suspect’s shirt, gloves and backpack had burns.
A bottle of lighter fluid was found at the third arson.
Court records show Deschenes had been arrested Sunday, accused of stealing an AR-15 rifle from a truck in Myrtle Creek. He was given a conditional release.
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