West Coast Arson Suspect Picked Up On Route 20 In Windsor Locks

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — An arson suspect who is the subject of an active arrest out of Oregon was taken into custody by Connecticut State Police late Tuesday morning after being spotted walking on Route 20.

Around 11:09 a.m., a state trooper saw a man walking along the shoulder of Route 20 eastbound in Windsor Locks, which is a limited access highway. In the interest of safety, the trooper made contact with the pedestrian, who was later positively identified as Robert Parmalee, 40, of Ritzville, Washington, according to a police report.

An investigation revealed Parmelee was the subject of an active arrest warrant, held by the Josephine County Sheriff's Office in Grants Pass, Oregon, in connection with a felony charge of first-degree arson. The warrant is approved for nationwide extradition, and Parmalee was taken into custody and charged with being a fugitive from justice, police said.

Parmelee was held on a $500,000 bond and transferred to the custody of the Hartford Correctional Center, pending his scheduled arraignment Wednesday in Hartford Superior Court.