Fire Department puts out vehicle fire in the Public Safety Building parking lot

A Spokane police officer was leaving the Public Safety Building Monday night discovered a car on fire in the parking lot with a man attempting to jump into the burning vehicle.

The Spokane Police corporal was walking to his patrol vehicle about 6:40 p.m. when he saw a car on fire with a man nearby acting “erratically,” according to a Spokane police news release .

Christopher R. McDaniel, 31 was attempting to jump into the burning car, according to police. There was a large can of gasoline near the front of the vehicle as well, police said.

Officers were able to detain McDaniel while the Spokane Fire Department put out the blaze. After a brief investigation, police discovered McDaniel had been given the keys to a family member’s car and told them about blowing up the car and being at the police station, police said.

McDaniel was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson and booked into Spokane County Jail. No one was injured as a result of the fire.