Paris Alcantara, a prolific offender accused of causing a massive fire at a notorious homeless encampment near Google offices in downtown Seattle, was released on Thursday with no charges filed.
Witnesses reported seeing Alcantara running away from the scene at the Mercer Street ramp in South Lake Union, where the fire occurred.
Alcantara claimed that the fire was an accident, stating that a candle fell over in his tent while he was cleaning it, and the fire quickly grew out of control. He had initially been booked for reckless burning, but King County prosecutors decided not to file criminal charges. As a result, the judge ordered Alcantara's release from jail without any conditions.
Alcantara has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 1998, including three felonies, 14 gross misdemeanors, three dozen prior arrests, and multiple substance charges. While charges will not be pursued by the county, the city may file misdemeanor charges. The investigation has been forwarded to the Seattle City Attorney's Office, as the charge of Reckless Burning can be filed as either a felony or a gross misdemeanor based on the evidence, and misdemeanor jurisdiction falls under the City Attorney's purview.
This incident marks the second massive fire in the area this summer. Last month, Seattle was rocked by explosions caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) placed in an encampment near Harborview Medical Center, believed to be part of a drug turf war, according to police reports.
Despite the recent fire, the city has yet to clear the encampment, which has been present in various forms at the location for the past three years. The encampment even includes a house built by the campers. Some campers have set up tents on the other side of Mercer St.
Neighbors have reported witnessing at least three fires prior to this incident, as well as multiple other crimes, including assault, and regularly hearing gunshots. Complaints to the city about these issues have gone unaddressed for months.
In March, a woman was found strangled to death at the encampment. Her body went undiscovered for several days, and it was Alcantara who ultimately found her.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's office stated that city crews were present on Wednesday for cleanup efforts. However, due to the level of dust and soot, combined with the heat in the area, work had to be put on hold. The mayor's office assured the public that plans are being implemented to ensure safe cleaning can resume next week. Outreach efforts will continue to engage with individuals at the site, offering connections to services and shelter for those who remain.
The mayor's office also announced that crews will be clearing out the encampment within the next two to three weeks, addressing the ongoing concerns of the community.
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