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SALT LAKE CITY — Police arrested a woman early Monday morning after an officer saw her attempt to light a coffee shop door on fire, the Salt Lake City Police Department reported.
Around 3 a.m., an officer driving past Beans and Brews, 900 South and 500 East, on routine patrol saw Rina Bowen, 47, light newspaper that she had stuffed around the edges of the main entry on fire, Det. Greg Wilking said.
The officer made contact with Bowen — who still had a lighter in her hand, according to jail documents — and extinguished the fire. Other officers responded, and Bowen was arrested after a short struggle, Wilking said.
The Salt Lake City Fire Department also responded to ensure the fire would not start again.
Wilking said Bowen had not told police her motive for the act, but police believe she may have mental health problems.
“It seems like it’s probably more a function of some mental health issues with this individual. (There is) no reason she would be there, no reason to target that business. (We're) unsure why she was even in the area,” he said. “It’s one of those incidents that happens out of the blue. (The officer) was in the right area at the right time, saw it, noticed her. We’re just lucky it wasn’t a more significant event.”
Bowen was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of arson and resisting arrest.
Court documents show Bowen was charged multiple times this year with criminal trespassing — a Class B misdemeanor — theft, interference with arresting officer and possession or use of a controlled substance.
Contributing: Marc Giauque
