Seattle police arrested a 29-year-old man early Tuesday morning after he set a recycling dumpster on fire beneath an occupied apartment building and assaulted officers.
At 1:26 a.m., Tuesday morning, officers responded to an arson call in the First Hill neighborhood, after reports that a suspect had lit a fence and a dumpster on fire.
Seattle Fire Department (SFD) firefighters extinguished a fire involving a recycling dumpster on the east sidewalk of the 600 block of 9th Avenue. Officers observed significant fire damage to the dumpster, including melted lids and burned contents. Firefighters told officers they had moved the dumpster away from a carport attached to an apartment building occupied by residents.
A witness told police they saw the suspect going through the recycling dumpster with a long fluorescent tube light earlier and later returned to find the dumpster smoking and on fire. Firefighters said the suspect on scene matched the witness’s description.
Officers located the suspect about a block away near 800 Jefferson Street carrying a fluorescent tube light. When officers attempted to place him in handcuffs, the suspect resisted and struck officers, before being taken into custody.
SFD determined the fire was set beneath apartment units with vehicles parked nearby. They also said the building could have easily caught fire because no sprinkler system was located near the dumpster.
Officers also recovered a backpack the suspect discarded nearby. During the search police found lighters and hairspray inside.
Police transported the suspect to the East Precinct and later booked him into King County Jail for investigation of arson, assault, and other related charges.
Incident: 2025-374084 & 2025-374092/East Precinct/E3
