Police: Woman lit car on fire, wanted to go to jail to avoid dealing with 'family obligations'



EDMONDS -- A 56-year-old woman with a history of arson lit her car on fire and waited to go to jail to "avoid the stress of dealing with family obligations" for the week, Edmonds police said.

Police responded to reports of a car fire in the parking lot of Westgate Elementary around 8 p.m. Saturday. Officers called to the scene found a 56-year-old woman standing in the parking lot next to the car when they arrived. When questioned, the woman allegedly admitted she used gasoline to start the blaze.

The car fire was immediately put out. No one was injured in the fire, police said.

The woman allegedly told police officers she wanted to go to jail to avoid family obligations. Instead of jail, the woman was transported to a local hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

She has a history of arson, police said, and was arrested and charged in August, 2014 for lighting her house on fire and attempting to kill herself.

Chargers were referred to the Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office for second-degree arson.