Kent Police arrested a 64-year-0ld Des Moines woman for investigation of arson for starting a three-alarm fire Sunday afternoon that destroyed most of a Pacific Highway South strip mall.
The woman remained Tuesday in the King County jail in Seattle with bail set at $225,000. She was booked Sunday evening into the jail, according to jail records.
“She hasn’t been charged yet,” said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, in a Tuesday email.
The woman waived her first appearance in court on Monday but a King County District Court judge made a probable cause finding and set the bail. The woman is scheduled to make a court appearance on Wednesday.
The fire all but completely destroyed a Dollar Tree merchandise store, tobacco shop and U.S. Post Office in the 23400 block of Pacific Highway South on the West Hill. The fire also damaged a beauty salon, specialty food store and a fitness gym at the mall, according to the Kent Regional Fire Authority.
Police arrested the woman outside the strip mall on Sunday afternoon, less than two hours after 911 callers first reported the fire. Witnesses told an officer that the woman made comments inside the Dollar Tree store about burning it down, according to court documents.
The woman reportedly went to aisle 1 in the store where the greeting cards are displayed. About 90 seconds later, she came out of the aisle and stated that the store was on fire. Witnesses told police the woman was the only one in that aisle.
About 15 people were in the store when the fire broke out. Everyone got out safely.
The Kent Regional Fire Authority has not yet released a cause of the fire.
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