UPDATE: Male Charged with Arson 1st Degree (DV) and Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree (DV)
Through the investigation, the male, identified as 42-year-old Manuel J. Garcia, was booked into the Spokane County Jail for Arson 1st Degree (DV) and Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree (DV).
Last night, after a search warrant was obtained, Deputy Garza recovered a Smith and Wesson handgun, magazines, and several hundred rounds of ammunition belonging to Garcia.
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Deputies Respond to an Uncooperative Male who Reportedly Started a Fire at a Home in Northwood
This afternoon, Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a fire call at a residence in the Northwood area. A male reportedly tried to set fire to the home and would not cooperate with Deputies when they arrived. The possibly armed male was alone in the house during the standoff. Several additional resources were requested to assist, and eventually, they coaxed the male into surrendering peacefully.
On April 14, 2022, at approximately 12:10 pm., Spokane County Fire District 9 responded to a reported fire at a residence in the 7800 block of E. Columbia Drive. The caller stated a family member is an addict and caused the fire, although he wasn’t sure if it was intentional.
Arriving fire personnel advised the fire was out, but they needed Deputies to assist in securing the scene pending a potential arson investigation.
Arriving Deputies requested the assistance of Behavioral Health Units (BHU) as they worked to contact the male who appeared to be in crisis, was uncooperative and barricaded himself inside the home.
Several additional resources to include, Negotiators, SWAT, Rescue Task Force, EDU, and Spokane Regional Air Support Unit, responded to assist in an effort to de-escalate the tense situation.
At approximately 5:45 pm, efforts to coax the male into surrendering were successful, and he was detained without further incident.
The investigation into this incident continues, and criminal charges are possible pending the outcome.
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