SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Deputies arrested a man for starting a fire along the Centennial Trail in Spokane County on Saturday, according to Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 3:30 p.m. on June 21, SCSO deputies responded to assist Spokane Valley Fire Department firefighters with a brush fire on the Centennial Trail near Gateway Regional Park.
By the time deputies arrived, SVFD crews had already controlled the flames. Deputies learned about a possible suspect spotted holding a lighter about 100 yards away from the fire.
Deputies found 45-year-old Christopher S. Walser sitting in some dry brush along the trail. Deputies said he was sitting next to a burned grocery bag and had multiple burn holes in his clothes.
Walser appeared to be intoxicated and when asked if he was present during the fire, replied, ‘absolutely.’
Deputies said Walser had previously been convicted of reckless burning.
He was arrested and booked into Spokane County Jail for second-degree reckless burning.
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