Neighbor 'detained' 4-alarm Portland arson suspect
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- The 40-year-old accused of torching his Portland apartment complex Friday was identified by one his neighbors who told KOIN 6 News he held the suspect until police could take him into custody.
The 4-alarm blaze near Northeast 104th and East Burnside forced several residents to jump several stories to save their own lives to escape the flames. A total of 15 people are displaced and 8 of them were rescued by Portland firefighters.
Shaun Szwarz now faces multiple charges, including 6 counts of arson.
One of the residents, Abraham Olmos, told KOIN 6 News he pointed his neighbor out to police.
"I noticed it on the chaos, no one would be able to identify him, but him being my neighbor I knew how to identify him," Olmos said. "So I detained him and grabbed law enforcement and told them the situation and let him know he couldn't go anywhere. We're in such an accessible area it would have been very easy for him to be able to get away. So I just detained him until law enforcement could detain him."
Some of the residents suffered serious injuries, including burns and fractures.
KOIN 6 News will have more information later in the night.