Linn County Undersheriff Michelle Duncan reports that on September 16, 2021, at approximately 10:24 a.m., the Linn County Dispatch Center received a call about a trespass in progress on Fox Valley Road in Lyons. The caller reported David Allen Crouch, 42, from Eugene, was on the property of a family member who he had been making threats to. While Deputies were responding to the trespass, the caller reported David Crouch left the location and the caller was following him. After a short time, the caller reported losing sight of David Crouch and returned to the Fox Valley Road address to find the residence was on fire.
As deputies arrived, they found the residence fully engulfed in flames. Fire personnel from 14 surrounding agencies responded to the fire. The fire quickly spread to the field of a neighboring property but was contained and did not damage any buildings. One person from the neighboring property was transported for a medical event to the Santiam Hospital in Stayton where they were treated and released. The fire destroyed the residence at Fox Valley Road which had previously been the Fox Valley School.
At 5:00 p.m. that day, Linn County Detectives were able to locate David Crouch in Eugene where he was taken into custody by the Eugene SWAT team. David Crouch was transported to the Linn County Jail and lodged on charges of Menacing and Harassment related to threats. Detectives and the State Fire Marshals continued their investigation through the weekend into the arson.
On September 20, 2021, David Allen Crouch was additionally charged with Arson 1. The investigation is continuing and there may be more charges pending. Anybody with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Colin Pyle at (541) 967-3950.