Siobhan Kelly was under surveillance by the Lake Orion Police Department when she set her downtown apartment ablaze Friday (Sept. 19), Police Chief Jerry Narsh said.
No one was injured, but the fire did cause considerable smoke and water damage to three apartments and two businesses below.
Kelly was quickly detained after starting the fire by the police surveillance team that had been trailing her.
‘She had become a person of interest to the Lake Orion Police Department for other matters,? Narsh said.
At 3:31 a.m. Friday, shortly before a 911 call was placed by the other residents living above the Hook Line & Sinker Bait Shop at 12 N. Broadway in downtown, the surveillance team witnessed the 28-year-old Kelly leaving her apartment dressed in black and carrying a suitcase. When later questioned, Kelly told police ‘she was leaving the area and not returning,? according to Narsh.
The surveillance team didn’t immediately know she had started a fire. They heard sirens while following her and verified with dispatch that firefighters were responding. Kelly was quickly taken into custody.
‘In the initial interview, she implicated herself in setting fire to her apartment,? Narsh said.
Further questioning disclosed even more information.
Kelly was charged by the Lake Orion Police Department with one count of arson of a dwelling or house, a 20-year felony. She was arraigned Saturday (Sept. 20) before Magistrate Judith Holtz at 52-3 District Court and is currently being held at the Oakland County jail on a $500,000 bail, with no 10 percent, awaiting a preliminary examination.
Many in Lake Orion may wince when hearing of a downtown fire considering events four years ago.
‘What makes this crime so heinous is its potential for a great amount of loss of life and damage,? Narsh said. ‘No one needs a reminder of the 2004 Sagebrush fire and its damage.?
And while this fire didn’t wreak as much trouble, bait shop owner Ron Jedlicki and Prime Time Sportscards proprietor Mike Kalohn both came into work Friday morning to find their backroom offices water-logged and much of the contents ruined.
‘We got so much water damage,? Jedlicki said. ‘Everything was sopping wet.?
Destroyed were not only items related to running a small business like computers, fax machines and boxes of paperwork, but also keepsakes their children made, they said.
‘In effect, she took these guys out of business,? Narsh said. ‘Obviously, Kelly is a troubled individual, but that does not excuse her actions. She will be held accountable in a court of law.?
The fire also displaced the residents of the apartments above the bait shop.
‘Everything is smoked in there,? said Gary Pawly, who lives in one of the apartments and was the first to discover the fire.
Pawly said he smelled smoke and ran to the other apartments, banged on the doors, and told the couple in the third apartment to call 911. He said he knocked on the door of the middle apartment where Kelly had lived for only a few months, but there was no answer.
Narsh praised the quick-responding residents.
‘Not only did they prevent loss of life, they were instrumental in ensuring minimal damage,? he said.
Jedlicki’s wife, Liz, was grateful they were all safe.
‘Thank God everyone got out and no one was hurt,? she said.