Lopez Jr. was booked into jail at 6:45 p.m. Sunday on charges of reckless burning and second-degree disorderly conduct — then released on his own recognizance later that night, court records show.
He was found walking along the edge of the same highway just after 3:30 a.m. Monday as cops joined fire crews to investigate reports of six more fires, Portland police said.
This time, he appeared to start the fires with a lighter, which was seized as evidence, the force said.
He was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation and issued citations for six additional counts of reckless burning, the bureau said.
Luckily, all the fires “were caught early” and “no one was injured and no structures were burnt,” police said.
The alleged arson comes as Oregon is one of the worst hit by wildfires devastating the West Coast, with at least 10 dead in the Beaver State.
Source: Oregon man freed after starting brush fire set six more: cops
