ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VA (Rocktown Now) — A Harrisonburg man is facing charges following a suspicious fire that occurred at the rest area on Interstate 81 northbound at the 262-mile marker in Rockingham County.

Virginia State Police spokesperson Matt Demlein says VSP were called to the scene at approximately 6:22 a.m. Friday morning for a report of a suspicious person and a possible fire.  The preliminary investigation shows the suspect, identified as Jonathan V. Jacobo Encarnacion, 39, of Harrisonburg, had a confrontation with a rest area attendant about vaping in the men’s bathroom. 

Demlein says the attendant felt uneasy about the confrontation and went to her car.  The suspect, who at one point blocked entry to the men’s bathroom, then went to the women’s side of the rest area, where smoke was eventually discovered.  The man then returned to the men’s bathroom, before eventually being taken into custody by Virginia State Police. A device believed to have been used to start the fire was located in the men’s bathroom.

Encarnacion faces charges of grand larceny, abduction, disorderly conduct, destruction of property, arson, and obstruction.  The grand larceny and abduction relate to the fact that two women located at the rest area say Encarnacion stole their vehicle at a location in Harrisonburg.

Demlein says the incident remains under investigation.