News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

Wilsonville arson suspect lodged in Clackamas County Jail

Posted: Nov. 20, 2009, 9:43 a.m.

Photo: Thomas E. Porter, Jr.

Please reference Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Case #09-33903.

At 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 4, 2009, members of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue's Station 52 and the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office (Wilsonville Police) responded to an apartment fire at the Sundial Apartment complex in Wilsonville.

Crews contained this fire to the second floor of this apartment structure -- with all the second-floor residents brought to safety by attending fire personnel.

Fire personnel were aware of at least three previous fire-related incidents at this particular Sundial Apartments address, identified as 7925 SE Vlahos Drive, #524, Wilsonville. Soon arson investigators -- including Oregon State Police troopers, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue personnel, and Clackamas County Sheriff's Office detectives -- began working in unison to investigate these suspected arson activities.

Pursuant to this ongoing arson investigation, on Nov. 17 an arrest warrant for Arson in the First Degree, was issued for the arrest of the subject believed responsible for this most recent Nov. 4 arson incident.

This suspect is identified as Thomas Edward Porter, Jr., age 29. Mr. Porter was a resident in this complex on Nov. 17 when the fire was discovered; he lived with his spouse and infant child in unit #524 -- one of the upper-level apartments severely damaged by this suspected arson fire.

Sheriff's Office detectives, working with Oregon State Police and TVF&R arson investigators, were able to conduct a thorough and swift arson investigation on this particular incident.

On Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m., Thomas Edward Porter, Jr. -- who was aware of the arrest warrant -- surrendered to Clackamas County Jail personnel and was lodged on the related charge of Arson in the First Degree.

Mr. Porter is scheduled to be arraigned on this matter on Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 at 3 p.m. in Clackamas County Circuit Court in Oregon City.

Please reference Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Case #09-33903.

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Jim Strovink, Detective
Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office