Police Department

Spokane Police arrest Arson and Vehicle Theft suspect after she set fire to her apartment and later crashed a stolen vehicle.

Officer Joshua Laiva

Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 10:19 a.m.

On March 6, 2020, just after 10:00AM, Spokane Police Officers and the Spokane Fire Department responded to a residence located in the 1400 block of W 8^th Ave., for the report of an apartment fire.  Callers reported the female living inside the apartment set fire to her own apartment, and fled the scene carrying bags and backpacks.  During the course of the investigation it was determined that the apartment had been intentionally set on fire by the fleeing resident.  The other apartments were occupied at the time of the fire.  Officers on scene worked with the Spokane Fire Department Investigators and established probable cause to arrest 23-year-old Natalia E. Hensz for Arson 1^st Degree.  Officers were initially unable to locate Natalia. 

On March 7, 2020, just before 9:30AM, Spokane Police Officers responded to the area of the 20 block of S Thor St., for the report of a vehicle theft.  Natalia was reported to have stolen a Chevrolet Tahoe from a friend, and crashed it into several fences and a garage in the 3600 block of E Pacific Ave.  When witnesses of the crash confronted Natalia, she was reported to have displayed a knife.  Natalia fled the location of the crash, going back to the original location of the theft.  Natalia was located by Spokane Police Officers inside an apartment.  The crashed Tahoe was located in the 3600 block of E Pacific Ave.

Natalia was arrested for Arson 1^st Degree, Tampering with a Fire Fighting Device with the Intent to Commit Arson, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamines), DWLS 2^nd, and Hit and Run Property Damage.  Natalia was booked into the Spokane County Jail for her charges. 

The Spokane Police Department has trained Detectives with specialized equipment who can work alongside the Spokane Fire Department personnel to determine the ignition point and the cause of the a fire.  Thanks to the great work of the Investigators from both the Spokane Fire Department and the Spokane Police Department, they were able to determine how the fire started and who was responsible.    

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