Pasco man accused of starting 3 Dumpster fires pleads innocent

A 20-year-old man charged with starting three Dumpster fires in downtown Pasco within 11/2 hours was later found with a burn hole in his pants.

Cristian Anthony Ruiz of Pasco has pleaded innocent in Franklin County Superior Court to possession of methamphetamine, a felony, and second-degree reckless burning, a gross misdemeanor.

His trial is Nov. 12.

Pasco firefighters and police responded to the 1500 block of North Fourth Avenue at 10:16 p.m. Sept. 7 for a suspicious Dumpster fire.

An hour later firefighters learned of a similar fire at on the 400 block of West Lewis Street and a third at 11:34 p.m. on the 600 block of Yakima Street. All were started by a someone, officials said.

Officer Jason Gilbert stopped a man walking in the area of the fires. It was Ruiz and he had three arrest warrants out of Franklin County. One reportedly was for arson.

When he was taken into custody, Ruiz told the officer he had meth in his pocket, court documents said. Gilbert found a small vile with a white crystal rock, which tested positive for the drug, documents said.

It was during the search that police also said they discovered the burn hole.

His bail is set at $50,000, though he also has holds for failing to appear in court or complying with orders in other cases. Court records show his first name is sometimes spelled Christian.

-- Kristin M. Kraemer: 509-582-1531; kkraemer@tricityherald.com; Twitter: @KristinMKraemer

This story was originally published September 21, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Pasco man accused of starting 3 Dumpster fires pleads innocent ."