GRESHAM, Ore. (KOIN) — A man who allegedly confronted his apartment manager in Gresham with a gun and set his apartment on fire was taken into custody Friday afternoon.
Witnesses told KOIN 6 News they saw smoke coming from the man’s unit at Hogan Woods Apartments and called the fire department.
The suspect, identified by Gresham police as 62-year-old Robert David Houser, was allegedly upset about rent at the apartment complex. He walked into the manager’s office with a gun, police said.
Multiple employees escaped safely and Houser ran back to his apartment, according to officers.
Dozens of police rushed to the scene along with multiple fire crews. The fire near the Gresham golf course closed Northeast Hogan near 20th as authorities dealt with the dual situations.
Authorities said they used a Taser on the Houser to subdue him and get him into custody.
Resident Tod Muir said he saw the suspect with a small gun and said he was told to evacuate. All the apartment residents were evacuated but were allowed to return to their units a short time later.
Houser was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of 1st-degree arson, 1st-degree kidnapping, coercion and unlawful use of a weapon.