| The fire was discovered just after midnight Wednesday morning by Perrysburg Police Officer Rich Cartwright. (J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune) |
PERRYSBURG – The woman charged in the fire which heavily damaged or destroyed eight apartments at Perry
Lake Village Apartments early Wednesday has reportedly confessed to the crime.
Chelsie Smothers, 19, a resident of Apartment 5 at 26773 Lake Vue Drive, in which the blaze began, was
arrested Wednesday and charged with aggravated arson, a first-degree felony.
According to Perrysburg Police Deputy Chief Mike Gilmore, Smothers has confessed to setting the fire. The
information is contained in the complaint submitted to the courts by a detective, he said. Smothers
reportedly shared the apartment with her boyfriend. Gilmore said that Smothers was arrested last year
for domestic violence against the same man, but would not comment on a possible motive in the crime. The
means she used to set the blaze is also not being released.
Smothers was arraigned Thursday in Perrysburg Municipal Court. She remains in custody on $50,000 bond.
Gilmore said that she was arraigned on one count of aggravated arson, but additional charges may follow.
Gilmore also praised the officers who discovered the fire and helped get the residents of the apartment
unit out safely.
The fire was discovered just after midnight Wednesday morning by Perrysburg Police Officer Rich
Cartwright, who saw smoke while he was driving on I-75. The officer then investigated, and put out a
call on his radio. Two other policemen, Officer Greg Cole and Sgt. Dan Maciejewski, responded.
By the time the officers came on scene, the building was fully engulfed in flames, Gilmore said. The trio
began pounding on doors of the unit, of which 24 apartments were affected.
"And they went in and pounded on everyone’s door and were attempting to get everyone up and everyone
out," though some residents were confused and didn’t understand the seriousness of the situation.
A unspecified number of residents reportedly sustained minor injuries in the incident, and were treated
and released, according to information from the state fire marshal.
When asked, Gilmore said that he "absolutely" considers the officers heroes for their efforts.
| Chelsie Smothers |
