Shiloh woman charged with arson in apartment fire
A 56-year-old Shiloh woman has been charged with aggravated arson in connection with an apartment fire in Shiloh.
Brenda G. Simpson, of the first block of York Port Drive, also was charged Friday with residential arson and knowingly damaging property of less than $500, according to a news release from the Shiloh Police Department.
Flames were shooting out an apartment building on York Port Drive when first responders arrived about 10:25 a.m. Thursday, police said.
“A tenant of the apartment in question was detained after she caused damage to a nearby unoccupied business in front of officers on-scene,” the news release said. “The female tenant made statements indicating that she caused the fire.”
No injuries were reported in the news release, and police could not be reached for additional comment.
The arson charges are felonies, and the property charge is a misdemeanor.
Simpson was being held in the St. Clair County Jail on Saturday on $100,000 bond.
St. Clair County online court records do not list an attorney for Simpson. Her next court date is June 26.
The East Side, O’Fallon and Swansea fire departments, along with the Illinois State Fire Marshal, responded to the fire.
This story was originally published May 30, 2020 at 9:49 PM.
