An Española woman was allegedly caught on a surveillance videotape Aug. 5 setting fire to the door of a roach-infested apartment, according to Española Police.
The woman, who has not been arrested or charged, was spotted on a surveillance tape lighting plastic and tape covering the door to apartment 103 at Santa Clara Apartments on fire. That apartment had been sealed up because of a roach problem, the report states. On the tape, the woman was seen watching the fire for a few seconds before walking away.
Española Police were not called to put out the fire, which did not spread, but were called the next day to review the tape, Española Fire Chief John Kitchen said. Firefighters verified it was a potential arson and referred the case to police, Kitchen said.
Officer Ernie Romero questioned the woman, who is a resident of a different unit in the apartment complex. She told him she started the fire because she was trying to burn some of the roaches, but had no intention of starting the door on fire. The door jam and door were damaged by the flames, according to the report.
Romero didn’t arrest or charge the woman but stated in the report he would forward the case to the District Attorney’s office. Assistant District Attorney Katie Thwaits said Tuesday that she hadn’t reviewed the case, but wasn’t certain it hadn’t arrived in the office.
Santa Clara Apartments manager Robert McCormick said Tuesday that the woman is still residing in the building, for now.
“Our lawyers are talking to each other,” he said.