KGMI Bellingham Police Department
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Bellingham police arrested a man suspected of arson after a fire and explosion at the tent encampment near City Hall.
Lieutenant Claudia Murphy says officers responded to reports of a fire on the north lawn of the Bellingham Public Library on the afternoon of December 5th and arrived to find the area formerly occupied by the fountain engulfed in flames.
While the fire department put out the blaze, investigators determined the suspect had propane tanks in his tent, two of which exploded in the fire.
Suspect Robert Cisar fled the scene, but was taken into custody five days later after authorities identified him via a photo from surveillance footage.