SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – A 13-year-old boy was arrested in connection with a that caused over $50,000 in damages.
Detectives from the Spokane Valley Investigative Unit (SVIU) identified the suspect with the help of community tips. The boy was charged with first-degree arson and booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center.
The fire occurred on May 17, 2025, when the suspect used a torch-type lighter to burn boxes on the second floor of the JCPenney store at 14730 E. Indiana Avenue. The fire spread, triggering the store’s fire suppression system and sprinklers, leading to significant water and smoke damage.
SVIU detectives credited the Spokane Valley Fire Department’s Fire Marshals and JCPenney staff for their cooperation, which was instrumental in the investigation and arrest.
