FORT COLLINS, Colo. — A suspect has been arrested in connection with a series of fires and incidents of vandalism that date back to October, Fort Collins Police Services announced Thursday.
The suspect, only identified as a juvenile male, was taken into custody Thursday morning and faces the following felony charges:
- Two counts of first-degree arson - residence - endanger life
- First-degree arson - residence - no endanger life
- Criminal mischief $20,000 to $99,999
Detectives are continuing to investigate the numerous cases and additional charges are pending, according to police.
Police said they were not releasing additional information, including whether they're looking for additional suspects, due to the age of the suspect.
The most recent fires were reported Jan. 4. On that day, a vehicle fire spread to another vehicle parked next to it. As a result, the fire spread and damaged a home in the 300 block of Toronto Street.
Investigators were working to determine whether any of these crimes were bias-motivated.
The following crimes were reported on Jan. 2:
- An American flag burned in the 2100 block of Lager Street
- A fire on a sidewalk and a Colorado flag burned in the 2100 block of Bock Street
- A vehicle fire that damaged a house, graffiti on the garage door and graffiti on the roadway, and a vehicle in the 400 block of Stout Street
- A ditch fire to the east of the 300 block of Pint Street
Late last year, there were several fires and criminal mischief reports in the same general area.
The first three incidents happened Oct. 23. On that day, Fort Collins Police took a report about a Pride flag that had been burned and caught a chair cushion on fire. That same night, Poudre Fire Authority responded to a grass fire in the open space area near the TimberVine neighborhood.
Less than an hour later, Poudre Fire and deputies with the Larimer County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the Collins Aire Mobile Home Park for a vehicle that was fully engulfed by fire. During that incident, first responders also found a trash can fire nearby.
The next day, on Oct. 24, there was a report of graffiti and an American flag that was burned in the TimberVine neighborhood. The home is near the open space where the grass fire had occurred the day before.
On Nov. 12, residents in the TimberVine neighborhood made four reports:
- A chair was lit on fire, and the fire spread to a home. This fire was put out by a resident.
- A small grass fire was lit in a canal, and graffiti was found on a fence nearby.
- A Pride flag was burned, and the home’s garage had graffiti on it.
- A scarecrow was burned, and a chair was stolen from that home.
On Thursday, Fort Collins Police said the suspect was contacted in the area as they and other law enforcement partners continued their investigation into the crimes in the TimberVine and Dry Creek neighborhoods, and in Collins Aire Park, which is in Larimer County Sheriff's jurisdiction.
Fort Collins Police detectives are still looking for any additional information and encourage those who have not reached out to contact the Fort Collins Police Tip Line at 970-416-2825.
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