Woman to be arraigned today in city arson case

YOUNGSTOWN — A Glenwood Avenue woman is expected to be arraigned for the charge of arson in Municipal Court this afternoon after police say a neighbor spotted her pouring gasoline around a vacant 641 W. LaClede Ave. home about 2:20 p.m. Sunday.

Police called to the home found a pile of papers and sticks smoldering in the driveway. Reports said 50-year-old Patricia Crockett told police, “I set the fire. I was just trying to clean up.”

Firefighters called to the home found accelerants at four different points inside, reports said. The woman who called police said she asked Crockett what she was doing and Crockett asked if she knew how to start a fire, reports state. Reports said the home has caught on fire before.

Besides the arson charge, Crockett was also taken into custody on a warrant.