Man Charged With Arson, Burglary

Valley Fire District arson investigators say a suspect in Saturday’s fire at 4108 N. Willow Road was jailed later that night.

Shawn L. VanZandt, 27, was arrested on charges of second degree arson and second degree burglary. VanZandt was charged with disorderly conduct, Deputy Fire Marshal Eric Olson said.

VanZandt was booked into jail late Saturday. County jail records list his address as 1323A N. Ash.

Flames engulfed and destroyed the Valley home, which had been in the same family for 60 years, in the early evening. Fire crews arrived at about 6 p.m., and battled flames for nearly an hour before they could extinguish it.

Investigators allege that VanZandt burglarized the house before setting it on fire. No further information is available, Olson said.

Shortly after the fire, Assistant Chief Dave Lobdell said crews at the scene found traces of gasoline or another chemical. Then investigators became involved.

The house was vacant at the time because it was being remodeled. Owner Karen Zaidi said she had just put a new roof on the house.

Man charged with theft

Deputies charged a man Friday with stealing hundred of dollars worth of merchandise from a Valley store.

A Home Base employee spotted a man hiding merchandise under his jacket, Wiyrick said.

Employees stopped Dave L. Riggs, 42, when left the store at 9718 E. Sprague and held him until deputies arrived, Wiyrick said.

The merchandise taken was valued at more than $300.

Riggs was charged with second-degree theft and booked into county jail.

Teen caught with stolen stereo

A 15-year-old East Valley High School student was arrested last Thursday after school security officers caught him with a stolen compact disc player.

The compact disc player was stolen during a house burglary in the 16800 block of east Indiana Avenue last Tuesday, Wiyrick said.

Sheriff’s deputies questioned the teen at the high school and took him to his house. There deputies said they found additional items that had been reported stolen from the Indiana Avenue house.

The teen was charged with second-degree possession of stolen property and booked into Spokane County Juvenile Detention.

Boy accidentally stabbed

A 13-year-old boy was accidentally stabbed Saturday, when he ran into a knife held by a friend.

At about 9 p.m., the victim and two 14-year-old boys heard a noise inside the house they were in at the 15400 block of East 23rd. The boys armed themselves with knives, and headed downstairs to investigate.

At one point, the victim turned and bumped into a knife held by one of the other boys.

He suffered cuts to his arm and abdomen.

Local hospitals were unable to update the victim’s condition.

, DataTimes