A man is in jail facing charges of arson and criminal mischief after allegedly stripping wire from a telephone pole, causing it to catch fire, on Thursday, according to Eugene police.
According to the Eugene Police Department, at about 3:50 p.m. on April 24, officers responded to the area of Bertelsen Road and Stewart Road for a report of a man who was allegedly breaking into an electrical box, stripping wire, and drinking from a large bottle of whiskey. Police also heard reports that the man was pulling wire from the telephone pole, and that the base of the phone pole had caught fire. Police said Eugene Springfield Fire showed up before they did and put out the fire.
According to Eugene police, the man, identified as Thomas Randolph Logan, 61, appeared agitated and hostile when officers contacted him. Police said there were several telecommunication wires that belonged to CenturyLink cut into several pieces hanging from the pole. Despite threats that Logan allegedly made towards officers, he was arrested without major incident.
Eugene police said Logan was sent to the Lane County Jail on charges of first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree arson. Jail records show Logan is still in jail as of April 25. Eugene police estimated the cost to replace the damaged pole at about $10,000.
