Bellingham man faces arson charge following one-day spree of setting fires across town
A Bellingham man was arrested after allegedly setting four fires across town in less than an hour.
Witnesses reported seeing Cody William Dykstra, 30, start a fire at around 7 p.m Monday, March 25 at the Sunset Pond Apartments. That was followed by reports of fires at the Bellingham Goodwill off Sunset Drive, at Franklin Street and finally Grant Street between Maryland and Illinois Street, according to Megan Peters with the Bellingham Police Department.
Bellingham police officers arrested Dykstra at 7:45 p.m.
Each one of the fires was in a trash receptacle of some kind, and no fire-related injuries were reported.
Witnesses were able to provide police with an accurate description of Dykstra. When police responded to the fourth fire, an officer saw a man who matched the description on Alabama Street. The suspect fled from police, who employed a K9 unit to apprehend him.
Dykstra was arrested on suspicion of second-degree arson, second-degree reckless burning, malicious mischief and obstructing. He remains in custody at Whatcom County Jail.
This story was originally published March 27, 2024 at 2:15 PM.
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