Memphis has been under a severe strain after a series of intentional fires broke havoc across Midtown, causing nearly $100,000 in damages. According to WREG, the suspect, Laquita Huffman, 38, was arrested on Monday morning in connection with multiple arsons that targeted vehicles and property. Huffman has been charged with Setting Fire to Personal Property or Land to Wit: Over $60,000.
In a destructive spree starting in the early hours of Monday, Huffman is accused of igniting at least three separate fires. As captured by Action News 5, a resident described the chaos, saying, "I guess it was like four in the morning and it sounded like we were being bombed, man, and it sounded like someone was celebrating for a minute and then it just kept happening, I figured something was wrong." Her alleged arson damaged nine minivans, a fence, and a storage building in Midtown's Philadelphia Street, amounting to around $44,000 in losses.
A later fire reportedly set by Huffman at the Kimbrough Towers Apartments damaged vehicles parked in the garage by $35,000. The Memphis Fire Department responded to the incidents and was in pursuit of Huffman, who had also tried to set a gas station ablaze, confirmed by Local Memphis. They noted that firefighters responded to a call at Kimbrough, where a car was on fire, possibly set by Huffman.
Amidst this series of fires, a silver Toyota in front of a shopping center became another target. Upon encountering the scene, Samuel Franklin recounted to WREG how witness to flames and smoke quickly alerted authorities. He recounted, “I pulled over at 1500 Union Avenue. I called MFD and gave them the details. They arrived and started putting out the flames on the car when another passerby notices the smoke coming from the back of the building.” While police did not immediately report, Huffman was also linked to an attempted arson at a gas station where she allegedly tried to ignite the gas pumps using charcoal and a lighter seized from a local store.
Huffman was ultimately apprehended by officers while allegedly setting a towel and wooden fence on fire, detailed in a statement obtained by Action News 5. After being taken into custody, she was transported to Regional One Medical Center, though the reasons for her hospitalization have not been disclosed. Huffman is due in court to face the charges against her for the multiple arsons she is accused of committing.
