Woman Arrested, Accused Of Setting Allentown High-Rise Fire

ALLENTOWN (KDKA) - A 79-year-old woman has been charged with arson, accused of intentionally setting a fire at an Allentown high-rise.

The fire started on the seventh floor of the Caliguiri Place apartment building in Allentown on Saturday.

Police say surveillance video showed Mary Monroe leaving her apartment and lighting a pack of matches on fire. Police say Monroe then tossed it on the carpet near the seventh floor elevator. Police say the video then showed her throw a styrofoam cup on top of the matches.

The fire left a hole burned into the carpet down to the concrete. The fire did about $2,000 in damage.

Fire officials went to Monroe's apartment after observing the surveillance video. Her granddaughter, Michele Lee Coleman, answered the door.

When questioning Coleman, police say Monroe yelled, "There is no Mary Monroe here!" and went on to say "Mary Alice Monroe lives here!"

Monroe told police, "When you arrest Cauzzy for hitting my daughter, I will admit that I set the fire...I set the fire to kill Cauzzy because he hurt my daughter."

According to the criminal complaint, Monroe refused to get out of bed and told police, "I'm not going to jail or any other place with you!"

Eventually, officers were able to move Monroe off the bed and take her into custody.

Monroe faces charges of arson, causing or risking a catastrophe, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.

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