Two arrested on arson charges in separate residential fires

Two people were arrested on suspicion of arson in separate house fires Saturday morning.

Light smoke was drifting from a two-story wood frame house at 817 E. Indiana Ave. when Spokane firefighters arrived at 11:31 a.m.

Police had responded to a call of a suspect setting fires inside the house, and were already on the scene.

A 17-year-old male was booked into Spokane County Jail on charges of arson in the first degree.

Damage to the house was minor, officials said. No one was injured.

In an earlier incident, Beverly Nagi, 57, was charged with arson in a fire at a duplex at 22 E. Mission.

Neither unit was occupied when firefighters arrived at 5:08 a.m. However, firefighters rescued pets from one of the units.

A neighbor was caring for them, while the American Red Cross was assisting the resident. Nagi was arrested near the scene and booked into jail.

The duplex sustained significant damage, officials said.

Becky Kramer

Spokane Valley

Task force arrests man, 27, in connection with child rape

A U.S. Marshals Task Force arrested a man in Spokane Valley on Saturday in connection with child rape.

James Cavazos, 27, of Spokane, was arrested near East Sprague Avenue and Farr Road on felony and misdemeanor warrants for third-degree child rape and fourth-degree assault-domestic violence, according to a news release. Cavazos was booked into Spokane County Jail; officials expect him to make his first court appearance later this week.

Staff reports