Prosecutors: Man charged in park fire may be responsible for other Seattle fires

SEATTLE — A homeless man who was charged with first-degree attempted arson at a Seattle park is a suspect in at least two other arson investigations within the past six weeks, according to the King County prosecuting attorney case summary.

On April 17 at 8 p.m., officers were called to Frink Park at 31st Avenue South and South King Street for multiple reports of a suspect lighting multiple fires in the wooded area of the park.

When officers arrived, the suspect, later identified as 32-year-old David Lawrence Tait, Jr., was standing in the middle of the wooded area, where there were six substantial brush fires burning, holding a blue Bic barbecue lighter in his right hand, according to the Seattle police case investigation report.

As an officer approached Tait, he said, "Those are bodies!" and pointed to the fires, the police report said.

He then dropped the lighter and was arrested.

According to police documents, Tait told officers he lit fires because voices told him to and that he had taken methamphetamine and heroin at noon that day. He also admitted to starting the fires, which were piles of brush and mulch, because they were bodies, according to police.

Scroll down to continue reading

More news from KIRO 7

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP 

Prosecutors said if residents of nearby homes had not noticed the fires and called 911 quickly, their houses could have been destroyed.

Charging documents said Tait’s bail was requested at $100,000 because he has a long criminal history and is a suspect in two more arson investigations.

One fire happened at the Pike Place Market on March 18 but was found and put out before it damaged the building.

According to witnesses, the suspect had left bags nearby that were later tied to Tait, the case summary said. Documents also said Tait matched the description police were given of the man who started the fire.

A second fire was set on April 16 in the bathroom of the Corvus and Co. bar at 601 East Broadway on Capitol Hill.

Witnesses described a suspect matching Tait’s appearance entering the bar, which was filled with customers, carrying a blanket and a propane tank with a torch attached, according to documents.

Surveillance video shows the suspect going directly to the bathroom of the bar, who was then seen leaving a few minutes later, the bar’s owner said.

When a customer went to the bathroom a short time later, he found the bathroom trash can burning.

Prosecutors said video from the incident at the bar showed the suspect carrying a “blanket” that appears to be the same sleeping bag found by police at the scene of the Frink Park fires.

Tait has not been charged in the fires set at the bar and the Pike Place Market. Those incidents remain under investigation.

Cox Media Group