A man was arrested on suspicion of setting fire to his ex-girlfriend’s car and harassing him, according to court records.
Brandon L. Bollinger, 34, said he sent his ex-girlfriend numerous text messages from several phone numbers created online in an attempt to rekindle their relationship after it ended last summer. It is
Chelsea Harper, 29, whose car was set on fire, told Spokesperson Review she was frustrated with how long it took Bollinger to get him arrested. He said he knew something.
“There was no way to prove it. He used so many different numbers,” she said.
Bollinger was upset that Harper would not give him a non-working vehicle that had been left on his property and threatened to destroy it, according to documents filed in Spokane Superior Court. He later told her that the vehicle had been damaged by a stranger.
The texting escalated in December when Harper received a message from an unknown number asking him to check on a new car he had purchased. Documents show that the vehicle was destroyed by arson.
“Your car will be incinerated as soon as you leave it alone. And you will always and forever have nothing in this lifetime,” said one message.
Bollinger continued to message Harper, even offering him money to spend time with him.
When she woke up on Jan. 3, she had put out flames in another vehicle purchased by the Spokane Fire Department, according to court documents. On January 12, she discovered that her Facebook account had been hacked and someone was sending “obscene” messages to her Facebook friends. She received more text messages from her unrecognizable number saying, “You should be tormented every day.”
“I was worried that it was escalating and that no one seemed to be doing anything about it,” Harper said.
On January 13, her car again caught fire, according to court documents.
Police were able to contact Bollinger by tracing a phone number that Bollinger suspected he used to access Harper’s Facebook account, the documents say.
Police found Bollinger and confirmed he had burns and soot marks on his face. He also admitted to harassing police and setting fire during a prison call to his mother.
Bollinger was arrested on January 14 on suspicion of first-degree arson, second-degree malicious pranking, first-degree computer burglary, and stalking. His bail was set at his $100,000. He was indicted on Tuesday.
“I’m glad he’s in prison and I hope he gets the help he needs,” Harper said.
