LAKE GOODWIN — Investigators believe a fire that destroyed a house near Lake Goodwin last month was intentionally set.
An arson investigation is ongoing, according to the Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office.
The county auto theft task force also is involved, as the house in the 3900 block of Rose Road was a suspected chop shop, detective Terry Haldeman said Tuesday.
The task force searched the three-bedroom house on Jan. 21 after numerous complaints from neighbors.
Two stolen cars, a stolen boat and a stolen trailer were recovered. The primary suspects in the chop shop operation weren’t home at the time, Haldeman said. Another man escaped in a car and later was arrested on an unrelated warrant.
The fire happened March 19, nearly two months after the visit from police. The property loss was valued at $350,000, Marysville Fire Marshal Tom Maloney said.
No one was hurt. More than two dozen firefighters battled the blaze, coming from districts in Marysville, Tulalip, Silvana and Stanwood.
Investigators haven’t released the names of any suspects in the arson.
As for the chop shop, the task force is building a case and plans to seek charges. Two of the suspects are in the county jail for other offenses and have declined to speak with detectives.
“We’re still looking for our main players,” Haldeman said.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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