Suspect Arrested for Reckless Burning and Drug Possession
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a reported brush fire near a residence in the 500 block of E. Hastings Road. Spokane County Fire District 9 quickly put the fire out as Deputies investigated the incident and arrested an adult male suspect. During a search following the suspect’s arrest, they located a can of butane, a torch, a lighter, drug paraphernalia, and suspected illegal drugs. The suspect was booked into jail.
On July 13, 2025, at approximately 6:15 pm, Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a brush fire near a residence in the 500 block of E. Hastings Road. Several callers reported seeing a white male, approximately 40 years old, with long curly hair, wearing red shorts and a white shirt, run from the area of the fire.
Deputies arrived as Spokane County Fire District 9 Firefighters extinguished the flames.
Deputies observed a large group of people standing around a male, later identified as 55-year-old Thomas E. Jones. Jones, flailing his arms and legs about and mumbling incoherently, matched the description of the suspect provided by callers.
From witness statements and evidence gained during their investigation, Deputies arrested Jones for Reckless Burning 2nd Degree.
During a search of Jones and his property, Deputies located a torch, a can of butane, a blue Bic lighter, a half-empty pack of Marlboro cigarettes, a suspected meth pipe, a small plastic baggie containing a white powered substance believed to be fentanyl, and another small plastic baggie containing a white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine.
Jones was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Reckless Burning 2nd Degree and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance.
However, per an agreement approved by the Municipal/District Court, these charges qualified for him to be released on his own recognizance due to Critical Status (jail overcrowding/population), and he was released soon after.
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Suspect Arrested for Reckless Burning and Drug Possession" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7