Scott Swanson
A 36-year-old man was arrested last week in connection with the Feb. 25 arson fire that destroyed a portion of Fir Lawn Lutheran Church.
According to a statement posted Wednesday, April 26, to Facebook, Sweet Home police arrested Andrew Jacob Cartwright, 36, on Tuesday, April 25, exactly two months after the fire.
Cartwright has been charged with multiple felonies in connection with the fire, which destroyed much of the Fir Lawn Lutheran Church building at 109 W. Holley Road, including arson, burglary and criminal mischief.
Police said the investigation of the crime progressed with the help of several agencies, including the Oregon State Police Arson Unit, Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Sweet Home Fire Department.
“Through the hard work of all involved the suspect was identified, located (outside of Linn County), interviewed, and arrested,” police said in a statement.
Police Chief Jason Ogden said local police were familiar with Cartwright.
“We knew who he was,” Ogden said. “We had had contact with him before.”
The chief said he didn’t want to divulge too much information until it was clear how the case will progress.
“He was on our radar,” Ogden said. We wanted to talk to him.”
Cartwright, who is listed in court documents as residing in Sutherlin at the time of his arrest, has a history of criminal activities in Linn County.
Ogden said he was apprehended in “the Roseburg area.”
At the time of his arrest Cartwright was already facing charges of third-degree robbery and third-degree theft in connection with a pair of incidents at Serranos Taqueria that included the alleged theft of $10 from a tip jar on Feb. 2 at the restaurant, 1502 Long St.
Court documents filed late last week indicated that Linn County District Attorney’s Office intended to seek an enhanced sentence in the case since Cartwright was on post-prison supervision when the crime occurred.
An April 28 filing indicated that Cartwright intended to plead no contest to the arson charge and would be facing a sentence of five years in prison, followed by three years of probation.
Patti Holk, who has served as a spokesperson for the church in the incident, said that she was “excited” that an arrest had been made.
Holk said congregation members were still waiting to hear the “why” behind the arson.
“One of the reports I’ve heard is that he simply didn’t like churches,” she said. “I really hope he can get the help he needs. That would be the greatest blessing, simply to see him really get help.”
Progress on the church reconstruction is proceeding “slowly,” she said, noting that the first step is asbestos abatement.
“We’re finally getting to the point where work is about to start. We’re frustrated with our insurance – it seems we should be getting more money back.”
Another challenge will be to determine how best to rebuild, she said.
“We’re working on possibilities. We want to provide better service to our community with our building and better use it ourselves.”
The fire has drawn the congregation together, Holk said.
“Our whole congregation is really supportive, all on the same page. It really makes you stronger when you go through something like this.”