Protester arrested in connection with dumpster fire at City Hall Thursday night

A protester was arrested in downtown Olympia Thursday night for allegedly lighting a dumpster on fire in front of City Hall.

Just after 10 p.m. Thursday, a group of about 30 protesters gathered outside City Hall. A couple members of the group then pulled a dumpster, some wooden pallets and other debris into the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Cherry Street where a man allegedly lit the dumpster and its contents on fire, according to Olympia Police Lt. Paul Lower.

The man who started the fire was later identified and approached by Olympia Police while he was walking downtown after the protest. The arresting officer recognized the man from his distinctive clothing, according to Lower. The officer arrested the man on suspicion of reckless burning and second-degree malicious mischief, and then booked him into the Olympia City Jail. He is 18 years old and white, according the jail’s website.

The Olympia Fire Department was called around 10:15 p.m. to put out the fire. While driving to City Hall, another call came in alleging there was a structure fire downtown. The initial responding crew went to investigate, said Olympia Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Mike Buchanan. Another engine was then sent to put out the dumpster fire a little before 10:30 p.m. The structure fire report turned out to be the dumpster fire’s reflection in a building’s windows the caller had mistaken for being inside the building.

After the dumpster was set on fire, the group of protesters walked south on Capitol Boulevard, some of them spray painting various store fronts and smashing windows at Starbucks along the way, Lower said. The group then went to Sylvester Park and by 11 p.m. had dispersed.

This story was originally published June 19, 2020 at 9:50 AM.