Illinois Valley Man Jailed for Trying to Burn Down Restaurant in Downtown CJ
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a suspect for attempting to burn down a restaurant in downtown Cave Junction yesterday.
The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 30-year-old man they identified as "Kale Phillip Luke" for the incident that occurred early Thursday morning at River Valley Restaurant in the 200-block of South Redwood Highway.
Deputies said the restaurant owner who rents the location advised them that a dumpster outside the building was lit on fire at about 3:25 a.m.. They said the incident was captured on surveillance which shows the suspect lighting a piece of paper, throwing it in the dumpster and placing other trash over the flames.
The suspect walked away as the flames spread from the dumpster and up the support beams of the attached porch, which threatened to destroy the business. The Illinois Valley Fire District responded and extinguished the blaze in which damage to the dumpster was estimated to be several hundred dollars and damage to the porch was estimated to be well over $1,000.
Luke was located and placed into custody on Thursday at 1:17 p.m.. He was then transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of 1st-Degree Arson and 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 8/9/24 11:46AM by Sam Marsh
