On January 14, 2023, at 1:38 AM, Grants Pass Police and Grants Pass Fire and Rescue responded to Lincoln Elementary School regarding a fire alarm. The first arriving police officer located four outdoor propane heaters active and set on high.
Two of the heaters were against a wooden wall of the school and had caused the wall to ignite. The police officer immediately extinguished the flames with a fire extinguisher to prevent further damage. Grants Pass Fire and Rescue arrived shortly after to ensure the fire had not spread further.
Surveillance video captured Quest Kellen Cougar Vanlohuizen, a 28-year-old male, moving the heaters and igniting them near the wooden wall. The video also showed Vanlohuizen ingesting suspected illicit drugs while in the same area. Vanlohuizen had fled the scene prior to the arrival of first responders.
This morning at 9:24 AM, a Grants Pass Police Detective observed Vanlohuizen at the Josephine County Courthouse and arrested the suspect with the assistance of patrol officers. Vanlohuizen was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for Reckless Burning, Second Degree Criminal Mischief, and Third Degree Theft.
The Grants Pass Police Department would like to encourage anyone seeing suspicious persons at schools during late night hours to contact the police department.
All suspects are considered innocent until any/all charges are proven true against them in a court of law.
Source: GPPD
