PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A 38-year-old woman is charged with two counts of first-degree arson after causing a fire at a well-known dim sum restaurant in Chinatown.
Rachel Hammer appeared in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Thursday after being arrested by police on Wednesday.
According to court records, police responded to reports of a fire on Dec. 22, 2017 in a makeshift shelter area in front of the House of Louie Restaurant where two homeless people had been sleeping. Police learned there were four witnesses who saw a woman, later identified as Hammer, lighting the shelter area on fire while others were inside sleeping.
Two of the witnesses had to help get the two people sleeping get out as it caught fire, according to court documents.
“The fire consumed much of the makeshift shelter, the personal belongings of the victims and damaged the building where the House of Louie Restaurant was located,” according to court documents.
A sketch of the suspect was drawn up shortly after the incident and police officers working downtown eventually recognized Hammer.
When she was taken into custody she later admitted that “yes, I started the fire in Old Town,” according to court documents.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that House of Louie closed earlier this week. The owner told the newspaper that Portland’s homeless population was among the reasons he decided to close.