Eugene, OR – Residents at a Bailey Hill Road apartment complex faced an unexpected evacuation Thursday morning after a fire broke out just as Lane County Sheriff’s Office detectives prepared to serve a search warrant connected to an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigation.
According to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began around 9 a.m. when a detective conducting surveillance at the complex noticed flames inside a first-floor unit. The fire quickly intensified and spread to an exterior window. The detective alerted dispatchers and evacuated residents in nearby units while Eugene Springfield Fire crews responded and extinguished the blaze. No injuries were reported.
Additional detectives continued with the planned ICAC operation at another apartment in the same complex, unrelated to the fire. According to investigators, the suspect — James Michael Minton, 27, of Eugene — was contacted and allegedly taken into custody on three counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the First Degree and three counts in the Second Degree. Deputies said the arrest stemmed from an ongoing ICAC Task Force investigation focused on child exploitation.
The sheriff’s office reported that the Oregon Department of Justice and the FBI assisted in the broader investigation. Officials noted the case remains active, and no additional details are available at this time.
The cause of the separate apartment fire is under investigation by Eugene Springfield Fire and the Eugene Police Department.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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