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Tigard Man Convicted On Arson Charges

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	City of Tigard 13125 SW Hall Blvd. Tigard, Oregon 97223	Press Release September 27, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact:	Jim Wolf, Public Information Officer Tigard Police Department Phone: 503-718-2561 Pager: 503-795-2391 Email: jim@tigard-or.gov

Tigard Man Convicted On Arson Charges
A Tigard Police investigation earlier this year resulted in the arrest of 40 year old Charles Kastel on June 25th. That day, a Tigard Police officer was on patrol in the area of 103rd and Amanda Ct. in Tigard when he observed a road flare burning in a cluster of brush. Ultimately a police canine search at the time resulted in leading police to the home of Kastel. After interviews and other information gathered from witnesses in the area at the time, Kastel was arrested and lodged at the Washington County Jail on multiple charges including arson and criminal mischief.

Yesterday, the Washington County District Attorney's Office advised that Kastel pled guilty to one count of Arson I and one count of Criminal Mischief I in connection with the June incident. The vandalism charges were a result of a series of reported incidents in the past involving staples and paint being thrown into the roadway along SW 103rd. . There had also been a report of a manhole cover being removed in the same area as well. These events had taken place within a short time span earlier this past spring and Kastel had been identified as a suspect. Evidence implicating Kastel had been located during the arson investigation conducted by Tigard Police.

In July, Tigard Police held a community meeting in response to the concerns expressed by residents in the area. The property owners told police of other unreported suspicious activity in their area in hopes that police would be able to find the person or persons responsible. The area affected had enjoyed relatively low exposure to criminal activity in the past. The sudden onset of incidents occurring earlier in the year prompted residents to take steps to better observe and report suspicious activity to police.

Kastel was sentenced to six months in jail for his charges.