In brief: Apartment fire suspect arrested

Spokane fire investigators have arrested a 49-year-old man in connection with an arson at the Cooper George Retirement Community.

Donald G. Quigley was booked into Spokane County Jail on one count of first-degree arson on Sunday afternoon.

Quigley, a resident of the apartments, was seen by tenants trying to light a phone book with a disposable lighter in the hallway of the apartments at 707 W. Fifth Ave. in the most recent incident last weekend.

He is also under investigation in connection with other fires at Cooper George, fire officials said.

City hires lawyer to fight suit

The Spokane City Council on Monday agreed to hire a local attorney to help the city defend itself in a lawsuit filed by a Spokane police detective.

The city will pay Milt Rowland, a former assistant Spokane city attorney, up to $75,000 to assist the city in the case brought by Detective Jay Mehring. Rowland is part of the firm Foster Pepper.

Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick placed Mehring on unpaid leave after he was charged with felony harassment in March 2007. He was acquitted by a jury and received back pay. His suit alleges that Kirkpatrick continued to make public statements accusing Mehring of threatening his wife even after he was acquitted.

Rowland is the second attorney hired by the city to help with the case