Youths Suspected In Construction Arson

Thu., Nov. 27, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

Two construction vehicles were torched early Wednesday in the Spokane Valley, and arson investigators suspect juveniles are responsible.

Firefighters found the vehicles - a water tanker and cargo van owned by Red Diamond Construction - engulfed in flames at 1 a.m. at state Highway 27 and 32nd Avenue.

Damage to the vehicles is estimated at $55,000.

The vandals left a sign on the tanker that read, “Stop building or face Yahway’s destructive wrath,” according to Eric Olson, deputy fire marshal of the Spokane Valley Fire Department.

The misspelling of Yahweh, a word for God often used by white supremacists, leads investigators to suspect teenagers are responsible, Olson said.

A sealed envelope found at the scene was turned over to sheriff’s deputies for fingerprint analysis.

Authorities are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the arsonists.

, DataTimes

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