Man detained after trying to start fire along I-5 in Lacey, State Patrol says
A man was detained Friday by Washington State Patrol troopers and ultimately taken to an area hospital after he tried to start a fire along the Interstate 5 near Lacey, a trooper said Sunday.
About 4:25 p.m. Friday, State Patrol received a number of 911 calls from passing motorists, saying that a man was trying to light the brush and grass on fire with a lighter along southbound I-5 east of Marvin Road, Trooper Robert Reyer said.
Some of those drivers got out of their cars and held the man down. One person also put out a small fire, although it wasn’t clear if they had used a fire extinguisher or stamped it out, Reyer said.
The man, who appeared to be suffering from a mental health crisis, also reportedly had tried to start a fire off nearby Hogum Bay Road, he said.
The man was taken to an area hospital where he was involuntarily committed, Reyer said.
This story was originally published October 30, 2022 at 4:18 PM.
