SPOKANE, Wash. — The man accused of intentionally setting a West Central home on fire over the weekend reportedly started the fire while at least five other residents were inside, according to court documents.
Nicholes Whitney, 43, was arrested early Tuesday morning and charged with six counts of first-degree arson. The charges stem from his alleged intentional setting of a fire in a home on West Dean Avenue. According to newly released court documents, Whitney told two residents that people were on their way to set the house on fire, and they had "about 9 minutes to get out."
The fire and its following investigation ultimately ended in two Spokane police officers shooting and killing 38-year-old Alan Jenks, who was also living at the home at the time of the fire. Jenks was not responsible for the fire but allegedly shot a gun at responding officers while being questioned.
According to documents, two residents living in the home on Dean Avenue heard a knock on their bedroom door, which is located in the basement, on Sunday. According to documents, six people were inside the home at the time.
Documents state Whitney was the one who knocked. He then told the residents not to lock their bedroom door because he planned to "come back in a minute" to talk with them. He then left.
Shortly after, the residents told police they saw Whitney and another person known as "Gorilla Mike" standing at the top of the stairs. According to documents, Whitney told the residents that his cousin and sister were on their way to the house to set it on fire. He also reportedly told the residents they had nine minutes to get out.
The residents told police they started gathering their belongings when Whitney approached them again, who reportedly said he "called it off" and they did not have to leave at that moment.
According to documents, Whitney stated he was tired of three of the other residents "pulling guns on him." He did not elaborate on what he meant.
Several minutes later, one of the residents saw fire and smoke coming from a bathroom on the main floor. Another resident tried to put out the fire using a fire extinguisher but then realized more fire and smoke was coming from an upstairs bedroom. Court documents state two people tried to put out the fire with an extinguisher and a garden hose but ultimately left.
Detectives interviewed the two residents who were in the house at the time and were able to verify Whitney's identity with one of his booking photos.
Early Tuesday morning, Whitney was arrested near a bike shop on Queen Avenue in Spokane. He was booked into the Spokane County Jail on six charges of first-degree arson.
During his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon, a judge set his bond at $100,000, citing his 16 previous failure to appear charges. He is set to appear in court again on April 16 at 9 a.m.
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