Police: Unknown assailant lights man, vehicle on fire in Vancouver

Vancouver police are investigating an arson and assault Thursday night at a parking lot near Arnold Park.

Officers were dispatched at 10:24 p.m. to a vehicle on fire in the parking lot at 2901 N.E. St. Johns Blvd. Once there, they found a 63-year-old man suffering from burns, according to a Vancouver Police Department news release.

Witnesses told police the man had been sitting inside his vehicle when an unknown man approached and poured gasoline on the vehicle and the victim, according to the police department.

“The victim gets out of his vehicle, and the suspect lights the vehicle on fire, which engulfs the victim in flames,” the police department said.

The injured man was taken to the hospital for treatment of his burns, police said. His name was not released.

Investigators are continuing to look into what happened.

The police department’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating. Anyone with information on the incident should call the department’s tip line at 360-487-7399.