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MILLCREEK — A woman was arrested Tuesday and accused of stealing from a store after lighting a Molotov cocktail as a diversion.
Investigators say Rachelle Mary Hawker, 33, walked into Savers, 3171 E. 3300 South, about 11:40 a.m. Tuesday with three Molotov cocktails. She then lit one of them and "used the fire as a diversion to leave the store with several items of merchandise without paying," according to a booking affidavit.
Investigators say Hawker then drove off in a stolen truck with a fire still burning in the store.
Several customers were inside the store at the time, which created a panic, but fortunately the damage caused by the fire was minimal, according to a spokesman for the Unified Fire Authority.
Hawker was later arrested on outstanding warrants. While being interviewed by investigators, it was discovered that she was also responsible for the incident at Savers. She was subsequently booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated arson and three counts of possession of an explosive device.
Unified fire investigators have requested that Hawker be held in jail without bail, pending formal charges being filed, noting that "the actions undertaken by Rachelle Mary Hawker shows she is a danger to the public and others, with her recklessly and knowingly setting a fire within an open and operating business."
