Medford Police arrest arson suspect

By Jessica De Nova/KTVL.com MEDFORD, Ore.-Medford Police Department said it arrested a 57-year-old woman Thursday, suspected of some, perhaps all of the city's arsons under investigation. Police charged Debra Irene Johns with two counts of second degree arson, one count of reckless burning and one of second degree attempted burglary. The string of downtown arsons started with the Miscellany building fire on June 25. "This suspect is the person that was committing arson crimes that are very consistent with the string of arson crimes not all of 'em but it is a consistent theme with the majority of these fires and how they were set, where they were set and what the method is and you gotta understand arson too, that one of the problems with arson investigations is your evidence gets burned up," said Chief of Medford Police Department, Tim George, during a press conference Friday. Detectives said they were able to collect forensic evidence linking Johns to the Beavertooth Oak fire on Wednesday night. One witness said Johns tried to break into that building. After the investigation, fingerprint powder was left around the lock and handle of the building's door where police said the suspect lit the fire. The Medford Police Dept. said Friday, it doesn't have enough evidence yet to charge Johns with Thursday's arson inside the women's bathroom of the Jackson County Jail lobby, but George said detectives were working on getting surveillance video which may show Johns was in the building at the time the fire was lit. Investigators said the arson's debri was discovered Thursday evening, but suspect Johns started it early that morning, before her arrest. Johns was seen at Hawthorne Park just after 8:00 a.m. Thursday when firefighters and police responded to a call for a palm tree on fire. A second fire at the park was discovered. Lt. Mike Budreau with Medford Police Dept. said the second fire didn't damage any property. A patrol officer said Johns took off running, but she was arrested on several outstanding warrants. George said forensic evidence collected at the Beavertooth Oak fire on Fir Street, combined with a witness description, the suspect's method of operation and more investigating, may add help add to the list of charges Johns faces. The Chief of Medford Police said only time and the ongoing investigation will tell if the suspected arsonist was acting alone.