Surveillance Video Released After Vandalism Spree in North Portland's Portsmouth Neighborhood

Early Monday May 5, 2014, officers arrested 20-year-old Richard David Simms Jr. for a string of arson fires in North Portland's Portsmouth neighborhood.

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(PORTLAND) - On Saturday May 3, 2014, between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., numerous fires were set by an unknown suspect in North Portland's Portsmouth neighborhood.

A total of six fires were set, including two house fires, two vehicle fires, one recycling bin, and one abandoned chair in a parking lot. Additionally, there were at least two additional acts of vandalism where rocks were thrown at two car windshields. There were no reported injuries as a result of any of these incidents.

Early Monday May 5, 2014, officers arrested 20-year-old Richard David Simms Jr. for a string of arson fires in North Portland's Portsmouth neighborhood.

Simms was identified after police officers reviewed surveillance video from a neighborhood resident.

Simms was booked into the Multnomah County Jail for two counts of Arson in the First Degree, three counts of Arson in the Second Degree and one count of Reckless Burning.

Simms will be arraigned on Tuesday in Multnomah County Court.

The vandalism spree stretched from the area of North Hodge Avenue and Houghton Street to North Portsmouth Avenue and Lombard Street.

Residential surveillance video was obtained by investigators showing the suspect in the driveway of a home.

Anyone with information about this suspect or these incidents is asked to contact Arson Detective Joe Luiz at (503) 823-3408 or joseph.luiz@portlandoregon.gov

Anyone seeing suspicious activity in the neighborhood should immediately call 9-1-1.

News Release from Portland Police Bureau