Bend man charged with arson after pair of fires

A 38-year-old Bend man faces arson and other charges after a pair of fires in his northeast Bend home’s backyard on Sunday, the second of which destroyed a shed and put up 25-foot flames, officers said.

Bend police and firefighters were dispatched twice to Bobby Dane Yarbrough’s property in the 63000 block of Lamonine Lane on the two incidents that occurred about 2 1/2 hours apart, Sgt. Robert Jones said.

An open burn was reported at 8:45 a.m. in the backyard of of the home. Jones said in a news release that Yarbrough was contacted at the home, but “it was determined that no crimes had occurred at that time.”

Officers and firefighters returned to the address at 11:15 a.m. when a structure fire ws reported in the homes backyard, the sergeant said.

Witnesses reported a shed was fully engulfed, with flames reaching 25 feet in the air before firefighters put it out.

Based on witness statements and evidence on the scene, police began an arson investigation, Jones said. Officers contacted Yarbrough at the home and took him into custody a short time later. He was taken to St. Charles Bend for evaluation, the sergeant said, declining to provide more details.

Yarbrough faces charges of first-degree arson, reckless burning and first-degree criminal mischief, Jones said.

No injures were reported in either incident, but the shed was a total loss, he added.