Redmond police search for vehicle arsonist

The suspect is responsible for vehicle fires in the Education Hill and Downtown neighborhoods.

Redmond police are investigating a series of arson incidents that have occurred in the Education Hill and Downtown neighborhoods over the last week.

Officers have responded to seven separate fires set inside vehicles since Sept. 24. All but one of the fires were minor and had already gone out by the time the arson was discovered.

In the early hours of Sept. 28, fire and police responded to a vehicle engulfed in flames at an apartment complex in the 17200 block of Northeast 85th Place, according to a press release. The fire had spread to the covered parking structure, but crews were able to extinguish it quickly. Police found evidence of an additional small fire in another vehicle nearby.

The Redmond Police Department also received reports of four vehicle prowls with small fires set inside sometime during Sept. 23 and 24 in the neighborhood around Northeast 79th Street and 170th Avenue Northeast.

No suspects have been arrested yet and it does not appear any specific type of vehicle is being targeted, the release states. All of the vehicles had apparently been left unlocked and the suspects have not taken anything of value from the cars.

Redmond fire investigators and police detectives are continuing to investigate this case. Officials ask for people to call police immediately if they see anyone acting suspiciously in their neighborhoods. Any tips about these incidents can be reported 24 hours a day to the non-emergency line at 425-556-2500.