Crime & Safety

West Des Moines Police Suspect Arson in Early-Morning Fire

Authorities have a suspect after a West Des Moines man's car was engulfed by flames.

West Des Moines Police think an early-morning vehicle fire was arson and they suspect a 23-year-old Des Moines man of setting it.

Officer Aaron Swenson said that he was sitting in his patrol car in the parking lot of , 3421 Ashworth Road, about 3:41 Tuesday morning when he heard a crackling noise and then saw flames coming from the alley between the fire station and the at 3301 Ashworth Radd.

The vehicle, a red 2005 Subaru Impreza, rapidly became engulfed in flames, Swenson reported.

“I did not attempt to see if anyone was inside due to the vehicle starting to explode,” he wrote. “I observed the driver’s side door open and the vehicle moving forward, slowly coming to a stop on the sidewalk.”

Police said the car’s gas cap was found on the ground and there appeared to be some unknown material inside the gas tank.

West Des Moines firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, then located the vehicle’s owner, a 49-year-old West Des Moines man who lives in the 8400 block of Boulder Drive, about 4:30 a.m.

A suspect was identified and the investigation is continuing.


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