The woman arrested in connection with the fire that destroyed the flagship Elephants Delicatessen in Northwest Portland early Tuesday morning told police she started the blaze accidentally while looking in the garbage for food, according to court documents.
Catherine Stough, 56, faces charges of reckless burning and criminal mischief. Portland police arrested her Wednesday after she approached investigators and told them she had started the fire, according to the probable cause affidavit for her arrest.
The fire caused an estimated $2.5 million in damages, the affidavit said. Though the fire started outside the building, it quickly spread to the attic, and a portion of the roof collapsed as firefighters battled the flames at 115 NW 22nd Ave., shortly after 1 a.m…