Tuesday, June 18, 2013

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Teen Accused of Setting Three Fires
18-year-old suspect apprehended shortly after lighting fires
By Kate McPherson
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ANCHORAGE - Louie and Shelley Lavigueure have had many adventures in their 1999 Ford Windstar, including camping with their four young children.

But an arson attack in the early hours Monday morning has taken away their only means of transportation.

“About 2:30 this morning the Anchorage police knocked on our door, knocked on our window of our bedroom, and woke us up and they asked us, 'Do you own a Ford Windstar?' We said yes, they said, 'Well, it's on fire,'” said Louie Lavigueure.

Lavigueure said the reality of the loss of the van came quickly.

“How are we going to get the kids to school and how is my wife going to get to work? How will we get to church?"

The suspect in this case is 18 year-old Sosiua Vahaakolo.

Police arrested him around 2:45 a.m. after he was found at hiding at Cash America, near the Lavigueure's house.

"He was actually seen hiding from a police officer by another police officer and that's usually a dead giveaway that that person needs to talk to the police for some reason,” said Lieutenant Dave Parker.

Vahaakolo is also charged with setting fire to two dumpsters. One at Barnes and Noble and the other just up the road from the van fire on Barrow Street.

The Lavigueure's said things could've been much worse.

"My wife just put a full tank of gas in it the other day so I mean it could've blown sky high,” said Lavigueure. "It could've led to the house and we are fortunate that everybody is safe.”