The Seattle Times reported over the weekend that Seattle police have arrested a primary "person of interest" in the recent rash of Greenwood arsons. Kevin Todd Swalwell, a middle-aged homeless man, has been convicted of arson in the past and has since been linked to several fires after a tip put Swalwell on detectives' radar.

Stawell’s court appearance is scheduled for today, where King Country prosecutors are expected to formally charge him with felony arson. "Detectives believe Swalwell is responsible for some, if not all, of the arsons in Greenwood," acting Assistant Police Chief Paul McDonagh said Friday at a press conference.

The biggest commercial arson in the neighborhood was a three-alarm fire which broke out in the Eleanor Roosevelt Building directly east of Taproot Theater on October 23rd, obliterating three restaurants and a coffee house and causing over $2 million worth of damage. Green Bean Coffee House, the Szechuan Bistro, CC Teriyaki, and Pho Tic Tac were rendered "black holes in the side of the old brick building," yet over a hundred firefighters worked to successfully save the Taproot space--the most prominent arts organization in the Greenwood area.

While fire did enter the Taproot building in spots, the performance space, scenic, and costume shops were fortunately not damaged, nor were the theater’s server and database. Closing weekend performances of Enchanted April were relocated to the Seattle Children’s Theatre. Temporary homes were found for the theater’s Acting Studio Classes as well as the costume shop, production offices, and box office.

The Taproot space has since been stripped down to the studs, with plans to restore the theater’s auditorium and lobbies for the January 2010 season opener. But despite the challenges posed by the fire, Taproot is still producing a holiday show. With no suitable space to be found, Taproot’s planned world premiere of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol has had to be postponed until next holiday season; It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, one of Taproot’s most popular past holiday productions, will be staged instead at the Stage One Theatre at North Seattle Community College.

Theatergoers can still get a taste of next year’s holiday premiere with two staged readings of Sherlock Holmes, to be held at McKinley Hall at Seattle Pacific University. All proceeds from the pay-what-you-can productions will be donated to the Greenwood Fire Relief Fund.

It’s a Wonderful Life // Stage One Theatre at North Seattle Community College // Nov. 25-Dec. 30 // $20-33
Sherlock Holmes staged readings // Seattle Pacific University’s McKinley Hall, 3307 Third Avenue West // December 4 & 5 // 8:00 p.m.

Filed in News and tagged arson, CC Teriyaki, Green Bean Coffee House, Greenwood, Greenwood arsons, Kevin Todd Swalwell, Pho Tic Tac, Szechuan Bistro, Taproot Theater

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