A 35-year-old man is in custody after police say he drove a white van into the Everett Police Department’s South Precinct parking lot on Tuesday night, lit it on fire and watched as it exploded. The van was quickly swallowed by flames before fire crews knocked the blaze down, and officers arrested the driver at the scene on suspicion of first-degree arson.
What police say
According to KIRO 7, officers at the South Precinct on SE Everett Mall Way heard a loud explosion at about 9:15 p.m., moments after a white van pulled into the parking lot. The station reports the driver got out of the van and was taken into custody while Everett Fire Department crews moved in to tackle the flames.
Police statement
In a post on social media, the Everett Police Department said the blast "is believed to have been the result of the fire over-pressuring the vehicle’s seals, causing them to rupture." Investigators have not publicly identified a motive and are processing the scene and interviewing witnesses.
Fire response and booking
Everett Fire Department crews extinguished the fire and cleared the area after the burning van was brought under control. Officers then booked the 35-year-old into the Snohomish County Jail, KIRO 7 reports. Facility and booking information for the jail is available from Snohomish County Corrections.
Legal context
Under Washington law, first-degree arson is a class A felony. The statute applies when someone knowingly and maliciously causes a fire or explosion that is "manifestly dangerous to any human life" or that damages certain types of property. The full legal language is laid out in RCW 9A.48.020.
How to help
Anyone with information is asked to call the Everett Police Department TIP LINE at (425) 257-8450 or Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS, the Everett Police Department said. Detectives are especially interested in hearing from witnesses who have video or photos, as the investigation continues.
