Arrests in Eagle Creek arsons

Joint terrorism task force arrests two in connection with June 2001 fire at Eagle Creek; indictments issued for two others, including ledge-sitter Tre Arrow.

By TERESA BELL and JOHN BECKER, KGW Staff


The Oregon FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested two people today in connection with an arson fire that damaged log trucks in Eagle Creek in June of last year. Two others were indicted and are being sought.


The truck fire happened near where protesters were camped out to block the now-canceled Eagle Creek timber sale.



The fire destroyed these log trucks near Eagle Creek in June 2001. (KGW Photo)

Federal prosecutors said the suspects face up to a million dollars in fines and 30 years in jail.


A well-known Portland activist is among those indicted. Michael J. Scarpitti -- who goes by the name Tre Arrow -- is most known for living on a ledge of the U.S. Forest Service building in downtown Portland two years ago in a timber protest that lasted eleven days. Officers are searching for Scarpitti, along with activist Angela Marie Cesario, to arrest them in this developing case.


Twenty-year-old Jacob Sherman and 25-year-old Jeremy Rosenbloom were indicted by a federal grand jury shortly before today's arrests at their residences. They made an initial court appearance this afternoon and trial was set for October 16th.


Investigators said these arrests are a key breakthrough in the investigation into the ecoterrorism arson case at Eagle Creek. The damaged log trucks belong to Ray Schoppert Logging Company, which had a contract to log the 1,030-acre Eagle Creek timber sale. The sale was the subject of prolonged protests and has since been canceled.


Court documents do not link the four suspects to the ecoterrorism groups ELF or ALF, but said the incinerary devices used to torch the Eagle Creek logging trucks were similiar to the formula used to set Ross Island Sand and Gravel trucks on fire in a similar case. The Earth Liberation Front claimed responsibility in that arson but the case is still pending.