PORT ANGELES — Police said Sunday they don’t know what motivated a 38-year-old man to allegedly set fires Saturday night at a church and City Hall and attempt a third at William R. Fairchild International Airport.
“We don’t know why he targeted those sites,” Port Angeles Police Department Capt. Kevin Miller said.
Miller said officials hope an investigation now under way will reveal a motive why John Douglas Deckebach, 38, of 1711 W. Sixth St., allegedly set fires outside Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and Port Angeles City Hall.
Deckebach was being held in Clallam County jail Sunday for investigation of one count of first-degree arson of a public building. He is expected to appear in court today, although a jail employee Sunday didn’t know the hearing time.
Deckebach was arrested at the Federal Express office next to the main terminal at William R. Fairchild International Airport about 9 p.m. Saturday — about three hours after the first fire was reported at the main entrance of Holy Trinity church, 301 E. Lopez Ave.
Police allege Deckebach poured gasoline on the concrete at the church’s north entrance and ignited it, causing minor damage to the pavement. A private citizen put out that fire.
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