 http://www.bendbulletin.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=16695
Bend resident under arrest in McDonald's fire
Published: July 14, 2005
By Keith Chu,The Bulletin
SISTERS — Deschutes County Sheriff's detectives arrested a
Bend man on Wednesday in connection with a fire that
destroyed the interior of the McDonald's restaurant here.
Nicholas Andrew Patterson, 23, was arrested at 1 a.m.,
when a car he was driving pulled over at the intersection
of South Locust Street and Highway 20 in Sisters, said
Capt. Tim Edwards of the Sheriff's Office.
"He pulled over for some unknown reason," Edwards said.
"When (detectives) saw him pull over, they moved in."
Undersheriff Larry Blanton said detectives uncovered
strong evidence connecting Patterson to the blaze, but
declined to comment on what that evidence is or how it
came to light. Blanton said the investigation into the
fire is still in progress.
Patterson is being held at the Deschutes County Adult Jail
on $221,000 bail.
Investigators believe Patterson acted alone.
"There's no indication he was working with any group,"
Edwards said.
According to the Oregon Judicial Information Network,
Patterson has no history of arson or violent crime. He has
been convicted of a handful of traffic violations.
Patterson, a guitarist, was scheduled to perform at a
benefit for Sri Lankan victims of the December tsunami at
the Sisters Coffee Co. on Tuesday evening, but didn't show
up for the performance, said owner Joy Durham.
Detectives located Patterson at a house in the Sisters
area, then followed him after he left the home, Edwards
said.
"They had a number of locations where they thought he
might be located and it took a while to find him," he
said.
Although Patterson lived in Bend, he had strong ties to
the Sisters community, according to family friends.
Patterson graduated from Sisters High School in 2000,
where he was a soft-spoken student, said Principal Bob
Macauley.
"He was a pleasant person and kind to others," Macauley
said. "Hopefully (the charges are) all wrong."
Patterson also made a name for himself as a talented
guitar player, Macauley said.
Durham knew Patterson's parents, who have since moved away
from Central Oregon, and employed him as a helper around
the Sisters Coffee Co. during summer vacations, she said.
"It's just totally uncharacteristic of him," Durham said.
"He wouldn't hurt a fly."
Patterson moved to Bend after graduating, where he worked
construction jobs and played guitar at local venues,
Durham said. He shared an apartment near the Old Mill
District with two other young men, she said.
Central Oregon Community College records show he was
enrolled there in the 2004-2005 school year. Patterson
made the dean's list in the fall quarter.
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Deschutes County Adult Jail
Nicholas Andrew Patterson
63333 West Highway 20
Bend, OR 97701
They said that a booking number is not necessary for addressing mail.
Other mail regulations are here:
The jail's phone number is: 541-388-6682
His booking number (for info purposes) is: 65657