Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons

A 46-year-old man was arrested this morning in connection with the string of fires set in the Greenwood neighborhood since June and a large warehouse fire set early this morning in Shoreline.

The man picked up several blocks from the warehouse fire has been identified as Kevin Todd Swalwell of Seattle.

Swalwell, who is homeless, was booked into the King County Jail just before 9 a.m. on investigation of arson.

In connection with one of the Greenwood fires, Swalwell was caught on a video surveillance camera behind the Olive You restaurant at 8516 Greenwood Ave. N. early on Nov. 9, when a fire began at the back of the Greenwood eatery, according to a probable cause statement released this afternoon.

Also, according to that document, Swalwell's palm prints were matched to prints found on a container of lighter fluid left near the scene of an Aug. 13 blaze at a home in the 100 block of Northwest 84th Street that injured one man.

Swalwell had been spotted at three earlier fire scenes in the Greenwood neighborhood, Acting Assistant Police Chief Paul McDonagh said at an afternoon news conference. A tip early on in the investigation also put Swalwell on detectives' radar.

"Detectives believe Swalwell is responsible for some, if not all, of the arsons in Greenwood," McDonagh said.

After Swalwell's "name came up" in a tip provided by a community member, "it led us to at least look for this gentleman," he said.

A second man who was detained by officers following Swalwell's arrest was questioned and released, police said.

The Shoreline fire marshal said this morning that the warehouse fire was arson and that Swalwell is a person of interest in that fire, which destroyed that building.

According to Seattle police, Swalwell was on foot several blocks from the Shoreline fire when he was stopped by members of a Seattle arson task force who were en route to the fire early today.

Swalwell has an extensive criminal history, including two prior felony arson convictions from 1983 and 1994, according to court records.

Chad Lewis, a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections, said Swalwell is currently on community supervision.

There have been 68 arsons in the Greenwood neighborhood in the last two years, and 17 of those were set in the last two months, Kelvin Crenshaw, the special agent in charge of the Seattle field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), said at this afternoon's news conference. It's unknown if Swalwell is responsible for more than the 14 arsons that police so far believe are linked to the same suspect. A $25,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the apprehension of the arsonist.

"Every time he strikes a match, it leaves human lives in the balance," Crenshaw said. "... Hopefully we've reached the end of the road" with Swalwell's arrest.

Though police and fire officials released only sparse information at the news briefing, Deputy Police Chief Clark Kimerer said arson patrols will continue to in the Greenwood neighborhood for the time being.

There's no reason to think a copycat arsonist is at work, but given that "this crime spree has struck such fear into the hearts of citizens," Kimerer said police will remain vigilant until they can be satisfied that no other suspects remain at large.

Additional information about Swalwell could be available as early as today, he said.

One of Swalwell's most recent mailing addresses is for the Ballard Food Bank.

Nancy McKinney, the food bank's executive director, confirmed that Swalwell is one of approximately 600 people who receive their mail at the food bank on 24th Avenue Northwest, which is a little over two miles from the intersection of North 85th Street and Greenwood Avenue North, site of an Oct. 23 fire that destroyed four eateries and caused $2 million in damage.

"I just talked to him five days ago. He called to ask about his mail," said McKinney, who hasn't personally met Swalwell.

"I really hope it's the guy because whoever is doing it [setting the fires] is really messed up," she said.

"It's exciting they have a person of interest," said John Huddlestun, whose Neptune Coffee shop is just steps from where several of the fires started in Greenwood. "But until it's confirmed it's important to stay on alert."

He said his store has been careful to keep any debris away from the back, as fire officials had recommended. It also moved the coffee shop's compost bin and left the lights on at night.

"We're very relieved, but you can't worry all the time," said Rhonda Arend, manager of the Bartell's drugstore in Greenwood. She, too, said her store was careful not to leave combustibles where they could be used for fire starter.

The fire in Shoreline overnight was in an abandoned warehouse. The only injury was to a firefighter who suffered smoke inhalation.

Firefighters were called out just past midnight to investigate smoke coming from behind the NW Discount World warehouse on Aurora Avenue North at North 170th Street. About an hour later, firefighters were ordered to evacuate the structure. Soon after, flames burst through the roof of the warehouse.

Through the predawn hours, about 80 firefighters from Shoreline, Seattle, Kenmore, Edmonds, Bothell, Kirkland and Mountlake Terrace battled the fire.

About a dozen fire engines were called in and their water lines snaked up and down Aurora Avenue, which was closed to nonemergency vehicles from North 165th Street to North 175th Street starting just past midnight.

"It's the biggest fire in recent memory," said Melanie Granfors, a spokeswoman for the Shoreline Fire Department.

The fire was extinguished by 5 a.m., she said.

Gassman was leaving her grocery-store job and riding her bicycle home when she first smelled the smoke. She was 10 blocks away, but the wind blew the smoke north and west.

Kathy Barsness, also a Shoreline resident, is married to a retired police officer who likes to listen to the drone of the scanner before bedtime. It helps him sleep. But on this night, Barsness said, the scanner wasn't quiet, and she heard the sirens from her house, about a quarter-mile from the vacated warehouse.

"If there's nobody in there, what starts a fire like this?" she said, watching from a parking lot. "This isn't a little itty-bitty fire. This is a huge fire."

Barsness said she didn't think the warehouse would be a prime location for a would-be arsonist because of the busy casinos nearby.

Patrons from the Club Hollywood Casino to the south and Parkers Casino and Sports Bar across the street stepped outside in the cold to see the fire before hurrying back inside.