The Hoquiam Police Department made a statement on social media saying that they arrested a man on Sunday, February 23rd that had a Domestic No Contact Order protecting a female and her residence at her residence where he had attempted to start a fire but officers interrupted and stopped it from further damage. 

Here are the details of that post - 

The Source of this story came from a social media post and not direct communications, information can be edited and changed without communications in this news release.  Information is as it was originally published on social media and source information may be updated.

On Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 1011 hours, Hoquiam officers were dispatched to a violation of domestic violence protection order in the 400 block of 11th Street. E911 Dispatch advised a 32-year old male was observed at the back of the residence from which he was prohibited by a No Contact Order arising from a prior domestic violence arrest.

Although the victim had changed the locks to the house, as the responding officers arrived at the scene, they met the suspect exiting a side door of the residence. There was a broken window next to the door.

The suspect acknowledged the No Contact Order, to include being prohibited from the home or within 100 feet of the home, but claimed he had permission to remove some of his belongings. The suspect indicated the large flat screen television in his car parked nearby was one of the items he had retrieved from the house.

Officers arrested the suspect for violation of the No Contact Order and noticed a strong odor of gasoline from within the house. As they checked inside, they discovered scorch marks above the electrical panel and gasoline-soaked clothing in a nearby laundry room hamper.

Officers secured these items as evidence, as well as a gas cap on the kitchen counter which appeared to be from a lawnmower gas tank located behind the residence.

Upon being processed at the Hoquiam City Jail, the suspect’s clothing was seized as evidence due to the strong odor of gasoline.

The suspect was subsequently booked in the Grays Harbor County Jail for violation of a no contact order as well as burglary and attempted arson in violation of the domestic violence act.

The investigation is ongoing, but an electrician trained in fire investigation confirmed the burn marks above the electrical panel were not as a result of an electrical failure or fire. This afternoon, a search warrant was served on the suspect’s vehicle to recover the television and additional evidence related to the arson investigation.