Two held in nine fires on the WSU campus

PULLMAN – Nine small fires were set on the Washington State University campus early Monday, and police have arrested two students.

David Patrick Miner, 21, of Tacoma, and Ian Copland, 18, of Aberdeen, were arrested in connection with the blazes, which did little damage but prompted the brief evacuation of one dormitory, campus Police Chief Bill Gardner said. There were no injuries.

Miner was arrested after being chased for more than a quarter-mile and then jolted with a stun gun, Gardner said. Gardner said interviewing Miner led police to Copland.

Miner and Copland, who were arrested for investigation of arson and reckless burning, both appeared in Whitman County Superior Court for a bail hearing on Monday and were released on their own recognizance, Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy said.

Tracy said he is still trying to determine what charges to file.

Gardner said motive was unclear but “there’s some indication that intoxication was involved.”

After getting reports of fires in trash cans and bushes, firefighters were notified of a burning bulletin board on the second floor of the Stephenson East tower, municipal Fire Capt. Scott Van Ness said.

“While the crew was en route on foot into that building, they discovered a larger fire in the main entrance lobby,” Van Ness said, “so they went in and put that one out while a second crew went in and checked on the east tower.”

Investigators discovered other small fires had been set in stairways and a parking garage, Gardner said.

The Stephenson housing complex was briefly evacuated as a precaution.

Pullman Fire Investigator Rich Dragoo said he does not believe the fires are related to a series of arson fires set throughout Pullman in November. Those arsons set in the early morning hours hurt three people and damaged several properties.