Albany Police Make Arrest in Arson Investigation

The man was arrested two separate times over nine local arson fires.

74-year-old Donald George Rice Photo: Albany Police

(ALBANY, Ore.) - Albany Police arrested 74-year-old Donald George Rice, an Albany area transient, in connection with a number of recent fires Tuesday at approximately 9:20 a.m.

Captain Eric Carter with Albany Police says police officers and fire investigators are conducting an investigation into a series of fires that have been set in Albany since the beginning of 2009.

"At this time Donald Rice has been identified as having set 9 fires outside of Albany area businesses since the beginning of 2009," Carter said.

The fires were reported at A.M.F. Albany Lanes at 1245 SE Clay Street, two fires were located at Miller Paint, at 1350 SE Pacific Boulevard. The Party Store at 1230 SE Pacific Boulevard was the scene of another fire, as was the Pizza Hut, located at 2215 SE 14th Avenue.

Carter says fires were set at Albertson's Grocery located at 1177 SE Waverly Drive, Footwear Express located at 2252 SE Santiam Highway, Skippers Restaurant located at 2987 SE Santiam Highway and Discount Cigarettes located at 2850 SE Santiam Highway

Carter says Monday, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Albany Police arrested Donald Rice after he set a fire behind the Skippers Restaurant located at 2987 SE Santiam Highway in Albany.

"A store employee called police to report that Donald Rice had set a fire behind the restaurant and walked off," Carter said.

"Responding officers found Donald Rice a short distance away from where the fire had been set."

Donald Rice was lodged in the Linn County Jail on a charge of Reckless Burning.

On Tuesday, February 3, 2009, at approximately 9:20 a.m., Albany Police say they arrested Donald Rice again, after he set a fire behind the Albertson's Grocery store located at 1177 SE Waverly Drive in Albany.

In that case, a store employee called police to report that Donald Rice had been detained after he set the fire behind the grocery store.

Following his arrest on Tuesday, February 3, 2009, Donald Rice was lodged in the Linn County Jail on charges of Criminal Mischief in the First Degree and 2nd-degree Arson.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about Donald Rice is asked to call Albany Police Detectives at 541-917-7680.

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