Spokane Police Officers, working with Major Crimes Detectives and Spokane Fire Investigators, arrested a suspect in an arson at a downtown apartment building. Lisa J Milliken (39) was booked into Spokane County Jail for 1st Degree Arson this afternoon.
This morning, September 24, 2018, just after 10:00am, multiple calls came in about a fire at an apartment complex in the 100 block of east 2nd Ave. Ofc. Casey Jones, responding to an unrelated call in the area, spotted Milliken walking in an alley near the apartment building as he saw smoke billowing from what was later determined to be her apartment window. After a brief conversation with Milliken, she was released pending further investigation.
Officers assisted in notifying and evacuating residents of the building. No civilians, firefighters, officers or pets were injured in this incident.
While conducting interviews and reviewing evidence, witnesses alleged the night before Milliken had threatened to burn the building down. They also alleged she had pulled and damaged the fire alarm the night before. Fire Investigators determined an “incendiary device” had caused the fire. Based on that information, officers booked Milliken for 1st Degree Arson just after 3:00pm.
This is a good reminder daylight savings (November 4th) is quickly approaching and is a good time to check and switch out the batteries in your own fire alarms. Smoke alarms also expire after ten years, so make sure and replace yours if they’re older than that.
Cpl. Teresa Fuller| Graveyard Patrol Team 15| Patrol PIO|Spokane Police Department