On December 12, 2022, at approximately 5:21 p.m., the Newport Police Department was dispatched to the Don and Ann Davis Memorial Park on the report of someone setting the park’s gazebo on fire. Newport Police and Newport Fire responded and located a fire inside the enclosed gazebo, with flames about eight feet high. Newport Fire was able to quickly extinguish the fire and Newport Police began interviewing witnesses.
Witnesses reported a male subject, later identified as 46-David James Timmons, 46, of Newport, had been inside the gazebo trying to refill portable propane tanks using a large propane tank. The witnesses told officers Timmons was standing in front of an open flame propane heater while he was trying to refill the other bottles. The witnesses told Timmons the inside of the gazebo smelled like propane and that he needed to stop because it was not safe. Timmons then dropped an open propane bottle directly in front of the open flame, which ignited the open bottle.
Witnesses stated Timmons fled the area on foot while the other subjects, who had been in the gazebo with Timmons, remained and tried to extinguish the fire. Timmons was located a short distance away hiding in another park after a citizen provided a tip to an Oregon State Trooper who was assisting. Timmons admitted to refilling the propane bottles, but denied causing the fire. The Newport Police were assisted on the scene by the Newport Fire Department and the Oregon State Police. Mr. Timmons was taken into custody and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail for the following charges;
Reckless Burning
Criminal Mischief II
Reckless Endangering x 2
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