King County prosecutors charged a 64-year-old Des Moines woman on Wednesday with first-degree arson for allegedly starting a three-alarm fire Sunday afternoon that destroyed most of a Pacific Highway South strip mall.
Linda K. Poplawski remained in custody Wednesday 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. Poplawski is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, Nov. 28 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.
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.
Kent Police arrested Poplawski outside the strip mall on Sunday afternoon, less than two hours after 911 callers first reported the fire. Witnesses told an officer that Poplawski made comments inside the Dollar Tree store about burning it down, according to court documents.
Poplawski reportedly became upset that the store had no shopping carts available because other customers were using them. She exited the store, but returned shortly later and told employees she was going to burn the store down.
The woman allegedly 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 investigators the woman was the only one in that aisle. Employees tried to put out the fire but were unsuccessful and cleared the store.
Poplawski remained at the scene and took pictures and video of the fire. Police found a lighter in her coat pocket and a second lighter in her purse. She also had a pack of cigarettes. The woman has no criminal history.
About 20 people were in the store when the fire broke out. Everyone got out safely. The three alarms totaled 75 firefighters and more than 20 support personnel. The fire burned for more than 24 hours in part because of so many paper products and the roof collapsing.
Kelsey K. Schirman, deputy prosecuting attorney, requested the $225,000 bail because of a potential threat to the community with a violent offense.
“Although the defendant has no known criminal convictions, the nature of the allegations and the circumstances in which the fire was set raises significant community safety concerns,” Schirman wrote in charging documents.
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