HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — The Harrisonburg Police Department (HPD) and the Harrisonburg Fire Department (HFD) Fire Marshals have charged one suspect after a fire on Friday, October 16.

According to HPD Outreach and Communication Juliana McGrath-Myers, just before 6:00 pm on Friday, October 16, HPD officers responded to assist HFD on scene of a fire around East Market St.

Two individuals reported that the tent in which they reside had been allegedly intentionally set on fire by 30-year-old Matthew Jacob Smith of Harrisonburg.

The individuals residing in the tent stated that Smith had been continuously harassing the couple due to one of them identifying as transgender. The couple was inside the tent when they heard a lighter ignite and saw the flames begin to build. After they made it out of the tent safely, Smith continued to make derogatory statements to the individuals.

Officers encountered Smith nearby, and a foot pursuit ensued. Once Smith was taken into custody, he reportedly began acting erratically and fighting with officers, spitting on them, and biting an officer on the hand. He was placed into a restraint device to protect himself and the responding officers as he was taken to jail.

HPD has charged Smith with the following:

  • 2 counts of Unlawful Bodily Injury
  • Disorderly Conduct
  • 2 counts of Obstruction with Threats or Force
  • 3 counts of Assault on Law Enforcement

HFD Fire Marshals charged Smith with the following:

  • Burning/ Destroying a Dwelling

Anyone with information on this incident or another should call 540-434-4436 to speak with an officer or visit www.harrisonburgva.gov/tip-411. Both methods are anonymous, and information leading to the arrest of a suspect may be eligible for a reward through Crime Solvers.