A burned-out Ford pickup truck sits in the median of Interstate 84 a few miles east of La Grande on Feb. 23, 2024. Oregon State Police took Eduardo Saldana Villegas into custody for reportedly setting fires along the freeway.

LA GRANDE — The Washington man arrested in connection with the Feb. 23 freeway fires is back in custody.

A Union County Grand Jury indicted Eduardo Saldana Villegas, 37, on Feb. 28 on charges of second-degree arson, felony fleeing, assaulting a public safety officer, reckless burning and resisting arrest, according to Oregon public records.

Following the indictment, Union County District Attorney Kelsie McDanial submitted an affidavit requesting a warrant be issued for Saldana Villegas’ arrest. Two days earlier on Feb. 26 the court released Saldana Villegas to Grande Ronde Hospital for medical reasons under a director’s hold.

He is represented by court-appointed counsel, La Grande attorney Rick Dall, and was due in court on March 25 for a plea hearing.

In her affidavit, McDaniel argued that while Saldana Villegas was previously arraigned on four of the charges, members of the grand jury added another felony charge — assaulting a public safety officer — during the indictment.

She also referenced that personnel from the Center for Human Development reported that Saldana Villegas was no longer experiencing the issues that led to his release to Grande Ronde Hospital.

“As the defendant was previously held on $20,000 bail, the state requests that based on that, in addition to the increase in charges, that the defendant be returned to custody for arraignment on the Indictment,” McDaniel wrote in the affidavit.

A warrant was issued for Saldana Villegas that same day, according to court records.

Then around 3:30 p.m. dispatch advised La Grande Police that Saldana Villegas was being released from the hospital and had two active warrants for his arrest, according to the probable cause declaration. Police responded to Grande Ronde Hospital, but found that CHD was still conducting a mental health evaluation.

Two hours later, police took Saldana Villegas into custody, according to the probable cause declaration. In addition to his Union County warrant, Saldana Villegas was also wanted on a warrant out of Walla Walla, Washington, for residential burglary, domestic violence, second-degree malicious mischief and harassment.

Saldana Villegas was also due to appear for jury trial in Walla Walla at the end of March for a different case. In May 2022, Saldana Villegas was charged with first-degree child rape, second-degree child rape, second-degree child molestation and unlawful imprisonment, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin reported.