Four suspects arrested in Grant, Adams and Franklin County arsons
Arson is suspected in a fire that destroyed a vacant building Sunday afternoon west of Moses Lake. The county Fire Marshal's Office is still investigating the cause of the fire.
GRANT COUNTY — Four suspects are in jail in an alleged arson spree in three counties over the weekend, including a fire that destroyed a vacant building near Moses Lake.
Teresa A. Farris, 24, of Othello, Eli J. Johnson, 24, Arthur R. Johnson, 36, and Nicole M. Mink, 31, all of Eltopia, are booked in Franklin County Jail on suspicion of arson, malicious mischief and criminal trespassing for an string of arson fires in Grant, Adams and Franklin counties.
Evidence suggests they started Friday night setting a serious of fires in Franklin and Adams counties. The alleged spree reportedly continued into Grant County, including fires that destroyed $300,000 worth of haystacks and an abandoned former army barracks in Mae Valley. In all, the four are suspected of starting at least 16 fires in the three counties, according to the Grant County Sheriff's Office.
The four were arrested Sunday night when they reportedly returned to the scene of a Franklin County fire. A deputy noticed they were in a vehicle that matched a description of the vehicle that fled the scene earlier.
For the full story, pick up a copy of Wednesday's Columbia Basin Herald.
— Staff report