Arson Suspected Again At Valley Building

Fri., Sept. 3, 1999

Adam Lynn Staff Writer

For the fourth time in a year, someone set fire Thursday to the same Spokane Valley building, sheriff’s deputies said.

Passers-by noticed flames at the rear of Subud Pacific Northwest, 402 S. Coleman, about 1:45 a.m., deputies said.

Firefighters arrived to find material burning at the rear door of the building, said Deputy Dave Reagan, a sheriff’s spokesman. The fire was quickly extinguished, and damage was minimal.

Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were called to investigate.

In July, ATF agents arrested a Valley man in connection with a fire set at the same building. Robin G. Lamont, 19, was charged with arson of a church in the July 1 blaze that caused about $10,000 in damage to the building.

Lamont is still in jail on that charge, officials said.

He also was a suspect in fires that damaged the building in April and September 1998 when the building was owned by South Hill Baptist Church. Lamont has not been charged with those crimes.

Thursday’s fire broke out shortly after deputies and firefighters were called to Broadway Elementary School, 11016 E. Broadway, to investigate a blaze there, Reagan said.

It appeared someone had set off a small incendiary device at the rear of the school. The explosion started a small fire that burned itself out.

Investigators are trying to determine if the church and school fires are related.

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