Officials Trying to Determine Why Suspect Allegedly Torched Home
After a Saturday night arrest of an alleged arson suspect, Morrow County Sheriff's Investigators are trying to determine why the suspect set fire to a home, then got into an altercation with officers.
47-year-old Diane Rochelle Berecz of Irrigon was seen walking away from a home that was engulfed in flames. Deputies say shortly after 9PM Saturday, a resident who lived in the home on Crooked Road in Irrigon had left the house for a short time, then when they returned in about 15 minutes, the home was ablaze.
The resident told officers it had NOT been on fire when they left. The interior of the home was fully ablaze, no word on how much damage was done. Deputies say a woman, Berecz, was seen walking away from the residence.
When she was contacted by officers she ended up being combative, and is now facing Arson, Resisting Arrest and Officer Assault charges and is in the Umatilla County Jail.
The investigation continues.