Man faces arson, burglary charges
By Terry Murry on Friday, July 28th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories
PASCO – The Pasco Police Department arrested Seth James Klindworth, 36, for several counts of burglary and arson, including the fire at the Apostolic Lutheran Church of Tri-Cities, 1207 West Court St., Thursday morning. The church sustained extensive fire damage.
Pasco officers responded at 5:08 a.m. Thursday to the old Bank of America building, 350 West Lewis St., for a burglary in progress. According to a caller, a man allegedly broke the glass doors, entered the building, and attempted to set it on fire before officers arrived.
Another call then came in claiming a man had broken a window at Celebration One Salon, 327 West Clark St., and tried to set the curtains on fire. When confronted by the caller, the suspect ran away.
Then the Pasco Police Department received a third call of a broken window at Atomic Foods, 1212 North Fourth Ave. When officers arrived, they saw a broken window at the grocery store, and evidence that someone had broken into the cash register. Officers did not find the suspect.
Minutes later, a fourth call came in about a fire at the Apostolic Lutheran Church of Tri-Cities. When officers arrived, witnesses said a man was seen breaking out of a church window. The church was engulfed in fire, and the suspect was seen running from the scene.
The Pasco Fire Department arrived and additional officers responded to the area to search for the suspect. They found Klindworth, who fit the description given by witnesses, at North 16th Avenue and West Agate Street, following a short foot pursuit.Photo via Pasco Police Department
