CLARK COUNTY, Wash. — A 31-year-old man already in custody on charges stemming from a brush fire and alleged bicycle theft has been charged with first-degree arson in connection with a separate commercial fire that caused an estimated $640,000 in damage.
Clark County Sheriff’s Office detectives added the arson charge against Josue Paredes Merino on Thursday, Sept. 3, following an investigation into the Aug. 28 fire at Furniture World SW, located at 7017 NE Saint Johns Road.
The investigation began Aug. 28 when Clark County sheriff’s deputies arrested Paredes Merino on multiple charges, including second-degree theft and reckless burning.
At about 7:15 p.m. that day, a witness called 911 after reportedly seeing Paredes Merino start a brush fire near the 4000 block of NE 119th Avenue, close to the Interstate 205 overpass. The fire burned less than 200 square feet before Clark County Fire District 6 extinguished it. No other property was damaged.
Deputies later located Paredes Merino after he allegedly stole a bicycle from a nearby residence. The victim confronted him and held him at gunpoint near the 2200 block of Brookview Drive until deputies arrived and took him into custody.
About two hours before the brush fire was reported, Clark County Fire District 5 responded to a large fire at Furniture World SW. Multiple people were inside the business when the fire started, but they were able to safely evacuate.
The fire caused an estimated $640,000 or more in damage.
The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office determined the Furniture World fire was intentionally set and identified two separate areas of origin. Investigators also obtained surveillance footage showing a person matching Paredes Merino’s description near an area where investigators believe the fire began.
Based on the Fire Marshal’s findings and additional investigation by detectives with the CCSO Tactical Detective Unit, Paredes Merino was charged Thursday with first-degree arson under RCW 9A.48.020.
Investigators are also considering Paredes Merino a person of interest in a third fire reported around the same time in an area between the Furniture World fire and the brush fire. That incident remains under investigation.
Paredes Merino remains in custody at the Clark County Jail.
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