HOMELESS MAN SETS HISTORIC TUGBOAT IRENE ON FIRE

Coos County
March 29, 2018

On Thursday, March 29th at about 0130 hours, The Coos Bay Police Department and Coos Bay Fire Department responded to a report of smoke coming from the historic Tugboat Irene displayed in the 400 block of North Bayshore Drive. Coos Bay Police arrived and officers found there was a fire burning inside the boat and 60 year old Jeffery Warner standing on the stern of the boat. Warner told officers he was just trying to stay warm, inferring that he started the fire. Coos Bay Fire was able to extinguish the blaze, which caused some structural damage to the inside of the boat.

During the investigation, Coos Bay Police found property inside the boat belonging to Warner. A Greyhound bus ticket was located, showing Warner in the community from Medford a little more than seven hours before the fire. Warner, who is homeless, was able to get one of the doors open on the boat and decided to set up camp inside. It appeared Warner started the small fire in the boat that got out of control. Officers also found lots of pirate related items inside the boat including several fake skulls, a fake parrot, pirate related jewelry toy eye patches and toy guns. Furthermore, Warner was also wearing pirate jewelry and a sweatshirt with a large pirate picture on the back. It is unknown if Warner’s affinity for pirate related items was his draw to the community or the boat.

Warner was arrested and transported to the Coos County Jail on charges of Reckless Burning and First Degree Criminal Mischief.