June 5, 2023
Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today announced that a grand jury indicted Garrett Allen Ray Repp, 30, on 55 charges relating to the recent fire that destroyed the May Apartments in the Goose Hollow neighborhood:
- 28 counts of Arson in the First Degree
- 21 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person
- 5 counts of Animal Abuse in the First Degree
- 1 count of Criminal Mischief in the First Degree
On May 16, 2023, Repp set fire to the May Apartments at 1410 SW Taylor Street and the building was destroyed, displacing roughly 33 people. Since the fire, the Portland Fire Investigations Unit, a collaboration between the Portland Police Bureau and Portland Fire & Rescue, has been investigating the origin of the fire, including gathering and analyzing evidence and interviewing witnesses.
On the evening of Thursday, May 25, 2023, the Fire Investigation Unit and Central Precinct officers arrested Repp, who was a resident of the May Apartments, on charges of arson and criminal mischief. Repp was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.
Upon review of the evidence provided by law enforcement, prosecutors presented the case to the Grand Jury on Friday, June 2. The Grand Jury returned a true bill of indictment.
Due to the violent nature of these crimes and the risk that Repp poses to public safety, prosecutors filed a motion seeking preventive detention (a means of denying any form of release during pendency of the case). The decision to keep Repp in custody or release him rests with the court. A decision is expected at a later date.
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office thanks the Portland Police Bureau and Portland Fire & Rescue for their assistance in this case.
A charging instrument is only an accusation of a crime. Repp is innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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