A search warrant has identified a possible suspect in the arson fire that tore through a dozen vehicles at Alan Webb Chevrolet in central Vancouver in August, though the man has not been charged with arson. Troy Silas Vallencourt, 34, allegedly told a family member he started the fire and had previously talked about burning up the car lot, according to the warrant.
What The Search Warrant Alleges
According to KATU, investigators identified Vallencourt as a possible arson suspect after he arrived at a family member's apartment and allegedly told them he had started the fire. The same family member told investigators Vallencourt had attempted to siphon gas from a vehicle at the dealership and had said an $80,000 car — later identified as a Denali — was burned up in the blaze. He also allegedly said he had been talking about burning up the car lot before the fire broke out.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed a silver 2001 Acura at Alan Webb Chevrolet within a minute of the fire starting, per the same account. The footage reportedly showed the driver exit the vehicle, pick something up from the ground, then return to the car and leave. Investigators believe the Acura was a vehicle Vallencourt had taken without permission, and they are examining cellphone records while trying to tie a phone believed to have been on Vallencourt to a nearby cell tower.
Charges Filed So Far
Vallencourt was booked into the Clark County Jail on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, taking a vehicle without permission, a drug offense and two counts of tampering with a witness — but he has not been charged with arson, the report states. Court documents attributed estimated damage from the fire at $440,000. He is due back in court Sept. 30 at 9 a.m.
How The Fire Unfolded In August
The fire broke out at the dealership at 3712 N.E. 66th Ave. in Vancouver, and no injuries were reported, according to The Columbian, which reported firefighters responded early that Monday morning. The Vancouver Fire Marshal's Office and the Vancouver Police Department's Arson Unit led the investigation from the start. At the time, a fire official told KPTV that arson was a possibility but the cause remained under investigation.
ClarkCountyToday.com reported that a total of 12 vehicles sustained varying levels of fire damage, while OregonLive noted at the time that the total financial loss was unknown. Alan Webb Chevy later acknowledged the fire in a statement on its own website, saying the dealership experienced an unexpected fire that damaged 12 vehicles on its lot and eventually promoting a fire-sale offering tied to the incident.
