Man Ignites Fuel and Fuel Pumps to Get Law Enforcement and Firefighters to Respond
Man Ignites Fuel and Fuel Pumps to Get Law Enforcement and Firefighters to Respond
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to what was originally reported as a suspicious/disorderly male at Glenn’s Food, 11810 N. Market Street. While traveling to the location, the Good Samaritan neighbor reported that the suspect had started a fire at the gas pumps. Deputies arrived, took the suspect into custody, and activated the emergency gas cutoff switch. The owner estimated the damage to be approximately $200,000. The suspect, who claimed three unknown people he could not see were following him, said he was scared and decided to pay for gas, then lit it on fire to get law enforcement and fire personnel to respond.
On August 18, 2026, at approximately 3:20 am, Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a reported disorderly male who had been yelling, dancing, and hitting the gas pumps in the parking lot of Glenn’s Food, 11810 N. Market Street.
The Good Samaritan neighbor of the business said the male, later identified as 51-year-old James F. Snyder, had been acting erratically for the last hour.
As Deputies responded, the caller advised that Snyder started a fire at the gas pumps and the pump island was now engulfed.
Because of this new information, and out of concern that the gas pumps or tanks could explode and endanger people in the surrounding area, Deputies upgraded their response to Code 3. They also worked with Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) Officers to locate the emergency gas shutoff switch.
Deputies arrived and immediately confronted Snyder, giving him clear orders to get down on the ground. They quickly took him into custody as additional Deputies activated the emergency cutoff switch.
Spokane County Fire District 9 Firefighters arrived and quickly extinguished the flames.
Snyder told Deputies that 3 unknown people, whom he could not see, were following him. He could not provide a description or even whether they were male or female. He said he was scared and yelling for help, but no one came. He then decided to start a fire to get law enforcement and firefighters to respond. He walked to the gas pumps, took out his wallet, inserted a credit card to pay for fuel, grabbed a lighter from his pocket, and lit the gasoline he had sprayed around.
Deputies also contacted the business owner, who arrived after learning of the incident. He estimated it would cost about $200,000 to repair the damage the suspect caused.
Snyder was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail on a felony charge of Arson 1st Degree.
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