MEAD, Wash. — A man is accused of setting a fire at a gas station early Tuesday morning at Glenn’s Foods in Mead.
According to the investigators in court documents, James Snyder, 51, was seen on multiple surveillance cameras around 3:30 a.m. using his card at one of the gas pumps. Shortly after, Snyder knelt down and allegedly ignited the fuel and sprayed it on the ground. He’s also accused of then spraying the ignited gas on the roof of the gas station.
Deputies say they raced onto the scene, and one of them arrested Snyder while another ran to the emergency fuel shutoff switch to turn the gas off.
According to court documents, Snyder told deputies he believed three people were following him but he couldn’t tell what they looked like or if they were male or female. He got scared and started yelling for help. When no one came, he decided to try and attract law enforcement by setting a fire.
Deputies wrote in their report, the gas station owner estimates around $200,000 in damages.
He faces a charge of first degree arson, and his bond was set at $200,000.
Deputies added that Snyder was seen wondering around near the gas station for about an hour before the fire started “yelling, dancing, and hitting the gas pumps.”
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