A photo of a person holding a lighter led to the arrest of a 40-year-old man later charged with reckless burning in connection with an Aug. 18 grass fire in west Eugene.

The blaze scorched 200 square feet on Eugene Water & Electric Board property west of the Randy Papé Beltline and north of West 11th Avenue, Eugene police spokesperson Chelsea Deffenbacher said.

Two witnesses saw someone with a “torch lighter” walking away from the fire, with one witness taking photos, Deffenbacher said in an email.

Eugene police arrested Michael Eric Tavernier on Tuesday, Aug. 25, on suspicion of a probation violation in connection with a previous arson conviction, as well as on suspicion of failing to register as a sex offender.

Tavernier pleaded not guilty Wednesday to reckless burning and failing to report as a sex offender, both misdemeanors.

At the time of his arrest, Tavernier “was wearing the same hat and backpack as was seen in the photo,” Deffenbacher said.

Tavernier “is a person of interest in other fires in the area,” according to Deffenbacher.

Tavernier had pleaded guilty in March 2025 to first-degree arson and was sentenced to 21 months in prison with credit for time served, to be followed by three years of post-prison supervision, according to Lane County Circuit Court records.

Anyone with specific information about recent west Eugene fires may contact police arson investigator David Clark at DClark@Eugene-or.gov.