Connect with us

Uncategorized

Man charged with lighting sleeping man on fire

Published

on

Brandon Nathaniel Lyon, 22, faces attempted murder, assault and arson charges accusing him of setting a fire that sent a 54-year-old man to the hospital with third-degree burns, according to Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau.

Budreau described the case as “a strange one for us” with no clear motive, and no clear connection between Lyon and the 54-year-old burn victim beyond that both men are homeless.

“This is very unusual, very concerning,” Budreau said. “There’s no connection at all between them.”

At about 3:56 a.m. Tuesday, Lyon was allegedly captured on surveillance video using a lighter to set fire to the victim’s blanket in an alley in the 100 block of South Grape Street, according to Budreau and court documents filed by Medford police in Lyon’s case. The video allegedly showed Lyon watching the fire get bigger and walk away eastbound on foot.

The victim used his hands to extinguish the flames, but suffered third-degree burns to his hands and feet. He was taken to Providence Medford Medical Center, and police say he’ll have permanent scaring on his left foot. He remains hospitalized and is in stable condition.

Budreau said “high quality” surveillance video helped police make an arrest. The video allegedly showed a suspect fitting Lyon’s description wearing distinctive clothing that included red, black and white shoes and a large necklace. A photo of the suspect was sent out to Medford patrol officers.

On Wednesday morning, police say they found Lyon sleeping in Hawthorne Park wearing an identical necklace and shoes as those captured in the video.

Lyon allegedly made admissions to police about setting the fire, but stated “he did not know why” he started the fire, according to an affidavit filed by police. Investigators were able to recover the lighter and all clothing in the surveillance video.

Budreau said his department is baffled by a possible motive in the fire.

“To our knowledge this individual doesn’t have a criminal history for lighting fires and fire events,” Budreau said. “It would be hard to explain this one anyway, but this one is definitely stumping us.”

Jackson County Circuit Court records show no prior felony arrests or convictions for Lyon, but several misdemeanor convictions since 2016 primarily related to methamphetamine possession.

Lyon made his initial court appearance Thursday on charges of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree arson and first- and second-degree assault.

At the hearing, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Laura Cromwell set bail at $1 million and set intensive conditions should he be released that include requiring him to be subject to GPS monitoring or regular check-in, not to possess firearms, not to consume alcohol or intoxicants, and not to possess any fire starting instrument “including matches, lighters and butane torches.”

You may also like…

Crime & Safety1 hour ago

Woman, who is in the process of obtaining IegaI U.S. residency, compIied with her spouse’s former girIfriend’s demands out of fear, believing she was being detained by an actual lCE agent, only to be abducted by her; police

Florida – A Florida woman was taken into custody earlier this month for allegedly lmpersonating a U.S. lmmigration and Customs...

Eugene2 days ago

Eugene community honors fallen officer on anniversary of his line-of-duty death

Eugene, OR – On April 22, the Eugene Police Department held a remembrance ceremony to honor Officer Chris Kilcullen, marking...

Eugene2 days ago

Crews respond to house fire in west Eugene, prevent spread to neighboring homes

Eugene, OR – On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Eugene Springfield Fire (ESF) crews were dispatched to...

Eugene2 days ago

Man arrested after shots fired during altercation in Eugene apartment parking lot

Eugene, OR – On the evening of April 22, 2025, Eugene Police responded to a shots-fired call at an apartment...

Eugene2 days ago

Pedestrian killed in crash on Amazon Parkway after vehicle loses control

Eugene, OR – On the morning of April 23, 2025, at approximately 9:45 a.m., a tragic incident occurred on Amazon...

Eugene2 days ago

City of Eugene to present 2025-2027 proposed budget amid financial challenges

Eugene, OR – On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., Eugene City Manager Sarah Medary will present the City’s...

Eugene2 days ago

Man arrested for disorderly conduct following incident at E. 11th Avenue building

Eugene, OR – On the morning of April 23, 2025, at approximately 8:21 a.m., Eugene Police responded to a distressing...

Crime & Safety4 days ago

Man, joined by his wife, gave famiIy members confIicting stories about where his chiId was after the 3-year-old had not been seen in months following the parent assauIting the boy to death, then tried to conceaI his death; charged

Missisipi – A Missisipi coupIe, 28-year-old Roddkis and his 26-year-old spouse, Cierra, were taken into custody in connection with the death...

Crime & Safety4 days ago

Man had his eyebaII ripped out after asking random passerby ‘how is he doing,’ before the man approached the victim from behind, inserted his fingers into his socket, and pulled the eyebaII out; charges

Arizona – An Arizona man was taken into custody and charged with multiple charges, including aggravated assauIt following a brutaI assauIt...

Eugene6 days ago

Eugene Police Department conducts pedestrian safety operation at 17th and Hilyard, issues citations for violations

Eugene, OR – The Eugene Police Traffic Safety Unit conducted a special pedestrian safety operation at the intersection of 17th...

Eugene6 days ago

Eugene Springfield Fire responds to commercial structure fire at Fred Meyer on Q St in Springfield

Eugene, OR – On Saturday, April 19, 2025, at approximately 6 p.m., Eugene Springfield Fire crews were dispatched to a...

Trending