Suspected arsonist arrested by Pueblo police
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- A woman accused of setting fire to houses, an unspecified businesses, a vehicle, bushes, and a fence was apprehended by police early Saturday afternoon.
In custody on charges of first-degree arson is Sarah Moseley, 30.
Pueblo Police say that shortly after noon, officers and firefighters responded to eight fires within 30 minutes; Moseley was arrested at around 12:45 p.m. and no more fires were reported after that.
The fires were set in the Bessemer neighborhood on the city's south side, police said, with the first report coming from the 1300 block of East Abriendo Avenue.
Police say that they arrested Moseley near the intersection of Aqua and Wyoming avenues; she had a torch, and several lighters and had just left an alley where the last fire was set.
Witnesses helped police in the investigation by providing Moseley's description, photos, videos, and her direction of travel.
Most of the damage was to a vacant home and an SUV across the street from each other on Pine Street.
"I was in the back yard over there, cleaning up," said Eli Velarde, the SUV owner. "That's when I heard the police officer yelling out on he intercom: Everybody get off the street! That's when I came around the house right there. I told the fire guys: Can somebody put that out?"
Chrishalynn Burgess lives a few houses down the street and said that she was worried about the fire spreading.
"I have animals, and my mom can't walk very well, and my aunt can't walk very well," she said. "If that would have hit my house, we would have been in big trouble."
Police said that Moseley could face more arson charges.
"This was roughly at the same time we were dealing with an officer-involved shooting on the south side, and the fire department was also on the scene with us there also," said Sgt. Franklyn Ortega. "So, it was sort of a tax on resources for a brief period of time until we got her into custody."
Several people posting on the police department's Facebook page say that they believe they know Moseley and have had unpleasant experiences with her before.
"I saw her walking around even when the police and fire department were here," Velarde said.
Surveillance video provided by a neighbor showed someone igniting a pile of materials in front of the SUV, then running toward the vacant house before flames erupted.
Moseley's bond is set at $40,000 and is scheduled for a court appearance next Monday.
