36 year old arrested for arson, rioting at May Day protest

Portland Fire & Rescue's Arson Unit arrests Sarah Pugh, of Portland, for setting fires in two intersections during May 1 protests.

Nearly four months after the fact, Portland Fire & Resuce's Arson Unit arrested 36-year-old Sarah Pugh, a protester who had set fire to two intersections during May Day protests downtown on May 1.

Pugh, of Portland, was charged with rioting, arson 2 and reckless burning. She set fires at Southwest Fourth Avenue and Morrison Street and again at Southwest Park Avenue and Morrison Street, according to a news release.

The arson unit had previously arrested Pugh for reckless burning in an unrelated incident in June.

Initially a peaceful rally at Shemanski Park to honor International Workers' Day, the May Day event turned violent following black-clad anarchists taking to the streets in a separate, unpermitted march. The groups clashed with police resulting in damage to downtown businesses and police cars.