Deputies Arrest Male Suspect for Arson and Malicious Mischief in Spokane Valley
Deputies Arrest Male Suspect for Arson and Malicious Mischief in Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley Deputies and Spokane Valley Firefighters responded to a reported brush fire on the Appleway Trail near Steen Road south of E. Sprague Avenue. Deputies arriving at the location detained a male who was later released due to the lack of probable cause to arrest him for arson. As Deputies continued their investigation, they later established probable cause to arrest the male suspect. Later that afternoon, they relocated and arrested him without incident.
On August 15, 2026, at approximately 4:45 am, Spokane Valley Deputies, along with Spokane Valley Firefighters, responded to a report of a brush fire on the Appleway Trail, west of Steen Road, in Spokane Valley.
As a Deputy arrived on Steen Road, he observed a suspicious male, described as a clean-shaven, white male in his early 20s with blonde hair, wearing a T-shirt and dark shorts. The male, later identified as 21-year-old Joseph C. Procell Jr., looked frantic as he waved and gestured toward the west. The Deputy advised other responding Deputies of Procell, and he continued to the fire’s location. He did not see anyone else in the area when he arrived.
Additional Deputies contacted Procell and detained him.
Spokane Valley Fire personnel also arrived and quickly extinguished the flames.
Deputies determined Procell had reported the fire, and when asked what happened and who started it, he stated he saw a person start the fire and walk away, adding that he didn’t start it. He admitted to having a lighter and that he did not smoke but did with his friends sometimes. Deputies advised Procell of his rights, and he refused to answer additional questions.
Deputies noted nearby businesses had cameras, but they were unable to contact anyone who could access them. They did collect an aerosol can of Heat Starter Fluid near the burnt area of the fire.
Without probable cause to arrest Procell, Deputies released him from custody as they continued to work on the case.
A few hours later, they contacted a business and obtained video of the fire’s start, which showed a suspect, believed to be Procell, start the fire and walk away. In the video, Procell does not appear to try to extinguish the fire. Instead, he walked away, stopped, and appeared to take a photo before he reported it.
Deputies also noted that fire personnel had to cut a fence to access the fire, which caused approximately $2,000 in damage due to the suspect's destructive actions.
Working with Spokane Valley Fire Investigators, Deputies established probable cause to arrest him for Arson 1st Degree and Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree. They relocated and arrested him at approximately 2:30 pm.
Procell was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for charges of Arson 1st Degree and Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree, both felonies.
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