Suspect identified in Army Surplus arson fire

SANDPOINT — A suspect has been arrested in connection with the arson fire that destroyed a downtown business on July 4.

Jennifer S. Meyer, 50, was identified as the suspect following a review of multiple hours of video before, after and during the fire at Sandpoint Army Surplus, Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon said. She was then brought in for an interview and was arrested on Tuesday.

Meyer was interviewed Tuesday by Sandpoint Police and subsequently taken into custody on a charge of first-degree arson, Coon said. Meyer will have her first appearance on Wednesday, July 17.

Currently, a motive for setting the fire is unknown, Coon said.

The longtime Sandpoint business was destroyed in the July 4 fire, which was reported at about 10:15 p.m., shortly after the community fireworks show ended, with heavy smoke pouring from the gabled southern end of the building.

The announcement came following a visit to the site by the Idaho State Fire Marshal's Office and Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which launched an investigation into the fire. The agencies are being assisted in the investigation by Sandpoint Police.

Coon said the department received several hours of surveillance video, two 10-second snippets of which were released to the public Monday, July 8. After examining the footage, an individual could be seen walking east on Oak Street at about 10 p.m. and subsequently turning down the parking lot behind Army Surplus.

"This individual then proceeded into the alleyway, stopping approximately halfway down, before approaching the south wall of Army Surplus," Coon said. "After a short period, a flame on the south wall is observed."

Police said the individual was observed stepping back from the flame before walking east to Fifth Avenue and leaving south.