Fire in northeast Bend ruled arson

The fire that burned an RV and a ski boat at a home on Northeast Lynda Lane on Saturday night has been ruled an arson, according to the Bend Police.

When law enforcement and Bend Fire Department personnel arrived on scene at 10:21 p.m. Saturday, they discovered vehicles in the area had been broken into during the fire and concluded the fire was likely arson, according to the release.

A neighbor contacted Bend Police to report a suspect, later identified as Lee Helms, fleeing the area shortly before officers arrived. The neighbor notified police of Helms’ residence and he was arrested on a warrant for probation violation. Through a search warrant, police later found evidence at Helms’ home allegedly connecting him to the arson and several vehicle break-ins in the neighborhood. There was also allegedly a small amount of methamphetamine found at his residence, according to police.

Helms is being held at the Deschutes County jail on suspicion of arson, criminal mischief, burglary, reckless endangerment, reckless burning, unauthorized entry to a motor vehicle and probation violation.

‘Dollars for a Dog’ begins Wednesday

The Crook County Sheriff’s Office hopes to raise $25,000 to purchase a trained drug detection dog and train its handler to assist tri-county law enforcement agencies with the detection of illegal drugs.

The office will kick off its “Dollars for a Dog” fundraising campaign at a press conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Prineville City Hall Plaza.

The campaign is in partnership with Crestview Cable and the Prineville Police Department and events will run through May.

— Bulletin staff reports