Man accused of arson arrested after fires over the weekend

Police arrested a man accused of setting three fires in downtown Spokane on Saturday and another who damaged a business in May.

Chad “Misty” Horne, 36, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree arson and second-degree negligent arson.

The arrests were related to three fires that were set between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday. Two of the fires started in bushes and caused only minor damage, and one involved a portable toilet that burned inside out, court records show.

According to a police press release, firefighters extinguished all fires and suspected a connection and probably arson.

Horne was found after an acquaintance of his from Hope House observed him lighting the final fire near Walnut Street and First Avenue, near Spokane Fire Department Station 4, according to court records. The acquaintance alerted Hope House staff, who reported the incident to police.

Hope House employees had known about Horne for several years and identified him as the perpetrator of a fire at the company in May of this year based on surveillance footage of the fire at the company building, court documents say.

The May fire left significant exterior damage at Lil Bit of Grooming, a dog grooming salon located at 1028 W. Shannon Ave., but there were no suspects at the time, although video of the perpetrator was released.

Witness testimony and video surveillance footage were enough to establish probable cause for Horne’s arrest, with court documents citing his physical appearance and various unique items of clothing as supporting evidence.

At his first court appearance on Monday, Horne told Court Commissioner Eugene Cruz that he had cancer, according to KXLY. When Cruz asked Horne if he understood his rights, Horne replied, “Yes, sir, I have brain problems, but yes, sir.”

According to KXLY, Horne’s attorney told the court that he was suffering from “terminal brain cancer” and that his behavior “in addition to his mental health and drug issues… was completely out of character for him.”

Horne was still in the Spokane County Jail Monday evening. Bail was set at $100,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 2.