UPDATE: Juvenile Suspect Arrested, Charged with Arson 1st Degree, for Starting JCPenney’s Fire, Causing Over $50,000 in Damages
Spokane Valley Investigative Unit (SVIU) Detectives continued their investigation into the arson fire at JCPenney last month. With the help of community members, Detectives identified the suspect, a 13-year-old juvenile male believed to have started the fire.
This morning, the juvenile suspect was arrested for Arson 1st Degree and booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center.
SVIU Detectives credited tips and information from the community, which were crucial in positively identifying the suspect. Collaborative efforts with the Spokane Valley Fire Department’s Fire Marshals and staff at JCPenney aided SVIU Detectives with this investigation, ultimately leading to today’s arrest. The fire resulted in an estimated loss of over $50,000 in merchandise and fire-related damage.
According to the investigation, SVIU Detectives believe that two other juveniles and the suspect were inside the JCPenney’s Store, 14730 E. Indiana Avenue, on May 17, 2025, at approximately 7:42 pm.
On the second floor of the occupied store, the suspect used a torch-type lighter to burn holes in boxes that contained merchandise before walking away. Soon after, a box ignited, which in turn caught additional boxes on fire, triggering the fire suppression system and sprinklers. In addition to water and smoke damage to the store, merchandise on both floors received damage as a result of this arson.
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This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "UPDATE: Juvenile Suspect Arrested, Charged with Arson 1st Degree, for Starting JCPenney’s Fire" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7