Very early Tuesday morning, September 15th, a 54 year old male reported he awoke to being on fire and sustained burn injuries. Just before 4:00am, Officers from the Medford Police Department responded to find the victim had been sleeping in an alley when an unknown suspect lit the bottom of his blanket on fire, which spread to his clothing.
The victim put the fire out with his hands and sustained 3rd degree burns to his hands and feet and was transported to the hospital where he remains in stable condition.
Video surveillance captured the event, which showed a male approach the sleeping victim and intentionally light the victim’s blanket on fire with a lighter and some paper while watching the flames increase before walking away. Video surveillance revealed the suspect’s clothing was distinct, and the information was shared with other officers.
On Wednesday afternoon just after 3:00pm, an officer spotted a male with the same clothing in Hawthorne Park. The individual, identified as 22 year old Brandon Nathaniel Lyon, was confirmed to be the same male in the video with no known connection between the victim and himself.
Brandon Nathaniel Lyon was arrested and lodged in jail on charges of 2nd Degree Attempted Murder, 1st Degree Assault and 1st Degree Arson.
