A knife-wielding man who was shot by police after he refused to leave a burning Motel 6 in Spokane Valley in June made his first appearance in court Thursday.
Michael J. Kruse, 41, is charged with first-degree arson in connection with the fire. Investigators believe he set fire to the bed in his room, according to court documents. He has been hospitalized since the shooting.
The Spokane Valley Fire Department and Spokane Valley deputies were called to the motel, at 1919 N. Hutchinson Road, just before 3:30 a.m. June 7.
The motel employee who called 911 reported he saw Kruse standing in the doorway with the bed on fire behind him, but he slammed the door when the employee advanced with an extinguisher, court documents say.