> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Arson charge follows fire at Berkeley encampment - URL: https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/2026/08/19/crime/arson-charge-berkeley-encampment-fire/ - Published: 2026-08-19T00:13:09.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-19T00:13:09.000Z - Description: Police say Patrick Ford set the debris fire because he was angry that someone in the encampment stole his scooter, records show. - Author: Emilie Raguso - Tags: Crime, Northwest Berkeley, BPD, Arrests, Harrison Street corridor, Homeless encampments, Property crimes, #articles, #records A man is facing charges after setting an arson fire "near structures and a densely populated encampment" in [northwest Berkeley](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/topic/northwest-berkeley/), according to court papers. Police say Patrick Ford set the debris fire because he was angry that someone in the encampment stole his scooter, records show. Ford, 60, also stays at the large encampment in the [Harrison Street Corridor](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/topic/harrison-street-corridor/), authorities said. Witnesses initially reported a mattress and a pile of garbage on fire at about 9:45 a.m. One person said they saw Ford "walking away from the fire with a torch in one hand and a can of gas in the other," [Berkeley police](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/topic/berkeley-police-department/) wrote. Ford admitted to a witness that he had set the fire and threatened to "set more if he did not get his property back," according to charging papers. When police found Ford, he was carrying a lighter that matched the description shared by a witness, BPD wrote. Later in the day, Ford's ex-girlfriend called police to corroborate details about the fire that morning, authorities said, adding that he had also punched her in the head. She said he had punched her twice because he was angry that she had "let his dog out of her tent to use the restroom" when there was a truck driving down the street, police wrote. BPD secured an emergency protective order to keep Ford away from the woman, according to charging papers. At the time of the Harrison encampment fire, Ford was out of custody, on his own recognizance, in connection with separate assault case. In that incident, from January, a Berkeley police officer saw Ford strangle a woman with both hands in the 2400 block of San Pablo Avenue, according to court papers. "As I activated my red and blue lights, Ford released his hands from the victim's neck and the victim ran towards my patrol vehicle," BPD wrote. During his arrest that day, police found a "glass pipe with burnt residue" in Ford's pocket, BPD wrote. They also found "drug paraphernalia … in Ford's pocket" during the August arrest, police wrote. The January case resulted in a misdemeanor charge of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, according to court records. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/8e/3b/8e3bb516-9b88-46c2-aa85-566ed9c3647c/content/images/2026/08/Patrick_Ford_APR111.jpg) #### Patrick Ford. **BPD* This month, he was charged with felony arson and misdemeanor domestic violence, according to charging papers. Ford had seven felony convictions listed in charging papers, including a 1995 gunfire case (discharge with gross negligence), drug sales and possession, commercial burglary and robbery. There have been 55 calls to the [Berkeley Fire Department](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/topic/berkeley-fire-department/) regarding the Harrison encampment this year, the city recently reported, including "[multiple nearly catastrophic fires](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/2026/08/06/community/harrison-encampment-closure-update/)." As of this week, Ford remains in custody with a bail of $50,000\. He is scheduled to enter a plea in the new case Thursday. 🚨 ****Readers asked about this incident, which resulted in this report. Have questions about crime and safety in Berkeley?** [****Alert The Berkeley Scanner**](https://www.berkeleyscanner.com/tips/)****.** ## Sign up for The Berkeley Scanner Authoritative public safety and politics news coverage in Berkeley, CA Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.