Man arrested for attempted arson at vacation rental, Olympia police say

A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted arson and residential burglary after he broke into a vacation rental on the city’s west side that he had previously rented, according to Olympia police.

About 6:30 a.m. Oct. 21, the property owner alerted police about the vacation rental in the 100 block of Rogers Street Northwest after checking a security camera. It showed the suspect approach the camera and rip it off a building wall, police Lt. Paul Lower said.

The owner recognized the man. He told police the suspect had previously stayed at the rental and damaged it by spraying an unknown substance on walls and pulling down curtain rods.

Police entered the rental and found the man sleeping on a couch. They also found a can of bug spray that had been ignited in a microwave oven, Lower said.

The man was arrested without incident, he said.

This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 12:17 PM.