Crime And Courts

Allegedly tried to ignite propane canisters outside El Sancho, Enterprise Rent-A-Car

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A Georgia man faces arson and other charges, accused of trying to ignite propane canisters outside two northeast Bend businesses early Thursday morning, failing to do so but still causing damage, police said.

Police and fire crews responded just before 4:30 a.m. to a reported structure fire at Enterprise Rent-A-Car on Northeast Clay Avenue, police Lt. Juli McConkey said.

Another fire was reported at El Sancho Restaurant on Northeast DeKalb Avenue, but a bystander put it out before first responders arrived. McConkey said the bystander remained on scene, and authorities determined that person was not the suspect.

Police and fire personnel found evidence at the two scenes to indicate the fires were intentionally set, McConkey said.

The suspect, later identified through surveillance videos as Demetrios Tsitsilianos, 37, of Athens, Georgia, tried to light a propane tank on fire outside of the car rental business. It did not ignite, but the deck caught on fire, causing more than $1,000 in damage, McConkey said.

Investigators determined the the suspect also earlier had tried to light several canisters of propane on fire outside of El Sancho. The fire did not ignite the propane bottles, which belong to the restaurant, but caused more than $1,000 damage to the building.

McConkey said Tsitsilianos also caused more damage by throwing a concrete umbrella stand through one of the restaurant's windows.

Around 8:30 a.m., Tsitsilianos was located on Northwest Hill Street near Hawthorne Avenue and was taken into custody.

McConkey said Tsitsilianos was taken to St. Charles Bend for minor burn injuries and evaluation.

Once he's released, she said, he will be lodged at the Deschutes County Jail on charges of first-degree attempted arson, second-degree arson, manufacturing a destructive device and first-degree criminal mischief.

McConkey said police don't know a motive or reason for his actions.