Oregon Man Arrested After Trying to Set Fire to a Homeless Person

A man has been arrested after allegedly soaking a homeless person in chemicals and then attempting to set the person alight.

The City of Corvallis Police Department confirmed that Larry G. Kiser Jr. (48) has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree attempted arson, reckless burning, menacing, reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal mischief, and disorderly conduct.

Kiser has been in custody in the Benton County Jail since his arrest on 24 February.

Corvallis police responded to someone screaming at 4:45 a.m. on 16 February at the 100 block of SW Madison Avenue. The person told police that someone had tried to set them on fire. The victim smelled strongly of flammable chemicals, police said.

The victim told police he was sleeping outside when he awoke to see the suspect hunched forward towards him and trying to light matches. The suspect was known to the victim, who escaped injury.

Police later learned that the Corvallis Fire Department had responded earlier in the evening of 15 February to a dumpster fire in the same area. Detectives were able to confirm that the burned property found in the dumpster fire belonged to the assault victim.

A search warrant was issued, and Kiser Jr. was arrested on 19 February.

Investigations are continuing, and anyone with information about the case should contact Detective Rhoda Krause at 541-766-6924 and reference case number 2025-01010.