Salem man arrested after allegedly starting fire at Halsey truck stop, pulling out knife

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A Salem man was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly starting a fire at a truck stop in Halsey, Ore. and flashing a knife at people.

At 7:52 a.m., 911 a caller reported an incident involving a man with a weapon at Pioneer Villa, the Linn County Sheriff's Office said. The caller said a man had set fire to one of the buildings and then pulled out a knife on them.

After the confrontation, the man ran off. Linn County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the scene as well as Oregon State Police and the Halsey Fire Department.

Salem resident Omar Ochoa Cervantes, 22, was later "captured near Interstate 5 after attempting to leave the area," officials said.

"During the investigation, deputies learned passing motorists noticed a fire on the building. When witnesses went to inspect the fire, they observed Omar spraying lighter fluid on an active fire consuming the electrical box," the Linn County Sheriff's Office said in a release. "Witnesses described Omar pulling a knife out of his pocket after someone took the lighter fluid from him."

Authorities said a building manager got involved, using a fire extinguisher to try and put out the blaze. However, Cervantes allegedly walked toward the manager with a knife. In response, the manager sprayed the suspected with the extinguisher, authorities said.

During the response from law enforcement, Cervantez allegedly "attempted to throw things at a pursuing witness," including a rock and a stick of deodorant, hitting the witness in the head.

"Due to quick actions of the witnesses, the damage was minimized, and the fire was limited to the exterior wall and electrical box," the sheriff's office said. "The value of the damage is still under investigation."

Cervantes was arrested, transported to the Linn County Jail and faces charges that include first-degree arson, harassment, menacing and fourth-degree attempted assault.