Denny's Customer Lit On Fire, Clackamas County Deputies Say

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OR – The man suspected of dousing a Denny's patron in gasoline and lighting him on fire Wednesday was arrested without incident on Thursday by Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies, according to sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Brian Jensen.

Milwaukie resident Deshaun James Swanger, 24, was arrested around 7:30 p.m. April 20 at a transitional house where he was staying with 18 other people, Jensen said. Swanger has been charged with attempted murder and has been lodged at the Clackamas County Jail.

Following the arrest, Jensen told reporters at the scene he was "happy and proud to announce we have made an arrest in the case," adding that he believes Swanger belongs in jail.

Swanger reportedly has a criminal history, though Jensen couldn't provide any details at the time of Swanger's arrest Thursday night.

KGW News received video of the moment Swanger was taken into custody, which was reportedly provided by a neighbor who witnessed the arrest:

The search for Swanger began Wednesday night. Around 9 p.m. April 19, Clackamas County deputies say Swanger entered the Denny's restaurant at 12101 S.E. 82nd Ave. in unincorporated Clackamas County and sat down in a booth next to 69-year-old Scott Ranstrom (who was identified by his family without independent confirmation by the sheriff's office, according to KGW News). Swanger then allegedly doused Ranstrom with gasoline and lit him on fire before running out of the restaurant, heading south on Southeast 82nd Avenue.

Prior to Swanger's identification Thursday, the sheriff's office released this security footage from Denny's, which reportedly captured the moment Swanger entered the restaurant Wednesday.

Ranstrom is still in critical condition at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, according to his sister, who was interviewed Thursday by KGW News reporter Mike Benner:

For the interview, Benner received public backlash and criticism, questioning why he put the victim's sister on camera at a time when her anguish was so clearly raw. In defense of his decision, Benner wrote this post:

A GoFundMe account has been setup to assist the family with medical expenses.

Throughout the day Thursday, Benner interviewed not only Ranstrom's sister but also Buck Sleight, the man who reportedly called in the tip that led deputies to Swanger's location:

Clackamas County homicide investigators are working to determine whether Wednesday’s incident is at all related to a similar incident Sunday at the Clackamas Town Center movie theater, where another male victim was doused with flammable liquid. That victim, however, was not ignited and also refused to cooperate with any investigation, Jensen told Patch Thursday.

"(Sunday's victim) didn't want to press charges and seemed to think it was all rather humorous," Jensen said. "It's very odd."

This post was updated to include the names of the victim and suspect, as well as comprehensive coverage by KGW News and reporter Mike Benner.

Photo Courtesy: Clackamas County Sheriff's Office