By Associated Press - Friday, July 21, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Police say a man who tried to set fire to his suburban Portland duplex was arrested after a nearly six-hour standoff.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Cedar Hills duplex late Thursday. Deputies saw smoke and began evacuating nearby homes. Negotiators then spoke with the suspect, 47-year-old Roy Merritt, by phone for several hours.

Deputies entered the home Friday morning and arrested Merritt. The sheriff’s office says burn piles were found inside the home.

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Merritt was booked into the Washington County Jail on charges of arson and reckless endangering.

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