BEND, OR -- A 73-year-old man is accused of arson, following a Friday night fire at his southeast Bend assisted living facility. Neighbors first noticed flames climbing up the south side of the building, at Regency Village, just before midnight.
After residents were evacuated from a portion of the building, police discovered James Grant had items linking him to the fire. He’s charged with Arson, Criminal Mistreatment and Attempted Criminally Negligent Homicide.
Fire crews quickly extinguished the blaze, which primarily damaged a vacant room.
Anyone with information about the fire at Regency Village is asked to call non-emergency dispatch, at 541-693-6911.
MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel says Grant was released pending further investigation into the incident at Regency Village. He says his deputies are working with Bend PD detectives and the fire department, "to determine what happened, when it happened and who was responsible for it happening."
Hummel says if he determines Grant, or someone else, is found to have committed a crime connected to the fire, he will ask the court to issue an arrest warrant.
