Whatcom County man charged with arson after fire destroys his trailer
Whatcom County sheriff’s deputies responding to a report of a trailer fire encountered an unusual roadblock when the trailer’s resident refused to leave the home as the fire grew.
Leroy Guillen, 71, was the only person inside the burning trailer in the 7000 block of Guide Meridian when deputies responded around 8 p.m. April 20. Deputies told Guillen to leave the trailer, but he instead armed himself with a foot-long knife and a hammer, according to Deb Slater with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Guillen allegedly made motions as though he was going to attack deputies, according to court documents.
His refusal to disarm and leave his property meant law enforcement could not safely clear the area for fire crews to extinguish the fire, which was close to other trailers and propane tanks, according to court documents.
Deputies eventually detained Guillen while the trailer was engulfed in flames. Fire crews put the fire out and prevented it from spreading, although the trailer was a complete loss, Slater told The Herald.
Guillen did not tell deputies how the fire started but security camera footage showed him going in and out of his trailer several times for about 13 minutes while the fire grew in size, according to court documents. The video also shows him sitting and standing in the doorway while the fire grew behind him
Whatcom County Fire Marshals investigated the scene and advised there was no obvious indication of the fire being an accident, according to court documents.
Deputies searched Guillen after his arrest and reported finding three lighters, according to court documents.
Guillen has been charged with first-degree arson, a class A felony. He has also been charged with felony criminal harassment and obstructing law enforcement, a gross misdemeanor.
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