BELLEVUE, Wash. — Prosecutors say a Bellevue dentist, who was facing eviction for not paying rent, tried to burn his office down last week by lighting medical masks and gowns on fire that health care workers have been desperately trying to get their hands on during the coronavirus pandemic.
KIRO 7 News reports Dr. Mohammad Rafie of A to Z Dental in Bellevue has been charged with first-degree arson for allegedly starting several fires on March 23 inside his office.
Water from the sprinklers inside the dental office started flooding the office, and the orthodontist, who was inside his office at the time, got out safely, according to charging papers.
He allegedly told investigators the fire was an accident and that he dropped an oxygen tank while cleaning that caught fire, but firefighters were immediately suspicious of the fire, noting the obvious smell of an accelerant similar to lighter fluid.
Court documents state Dr. Rafie is also suspected in a 2017 attempted arson at his old office, which is still under investigation.