Portland teen accused of arson after police say he lit his own car on fire

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A Portland teenager was arrested this past weekend after allegedly lighting his own car on fire and endangering others in the process.

According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to multiple reports of a car on fire in the 15000 block of Southwest Sundew Drive on Saturday, June 22. When they arrived, law enforcement saw "a fully engulfed 1997 Toyota Camry."

Deputies said they saw the flames spreading to a tree in someone's yard next to the fire and that the embers were heading toward the occupied home. Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue later responded to and extinguished the fire. No one was injured.

Officials said the owner of the car was a 19-year-old Portland resident, Ethan Mills. After an investigation, Mills was identified as the suspect in the arson. He's accused of lighting his own car on fire after smashing out its windows, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies found Mills close to where the fire started and arrested him. He's being lodged in the Washington County Sheriff's Office on charges of first- and second-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief and recklessly endangering another person.