Police Department

Arson Arrest

Ofc. John O'Brien, PIO

Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 2:07 p.m.

A man was arrested after starting a car fire in a parking lot on the Public Safety building campus. The fire was extinguished before it could cause damage to other property.

On December 14, 2020, around 6:41 p.m., a Spokane Police Department Corporal was walking to his patrol vehicle that was parked in the Public Safety building parking lot. He came across a vehicle on fire and a man acting erratically.

The male, Christopher R. McDaniel (31), was trying to jump into the car that was engulfed in flames. There appeared to be a large can of gasoline in front of the car.

Officers detained the man for his safety.

The Spokane Fire Department responded to extinguish the fire.

An investigation revealed McDaniel had been given keys and access to a family member’s car. He made statements, to family members, about blowing up the car and being at the Police station. McDaniel was arrested for Arson 1^st degree and was booked into the Spokane County Jail.

Fortunately nobody was injured and it doesn’t appear any other property was damaged as a result of the intentionally lit fire.

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