Chattanooga police charge woman with arson

photo Cheryl Hale

A Chattanooga woman has been charged with aggravated arson after firefighters said she set fire to a trash can on the porch of a home at 1920 Sherman St. early Sunday.

Spokesman Bruce Garner with the Chattanooga Fire Department said in a news release that the woman, Cheryl Hale, often visited the people who lived in the home and was allowed to sleep on the front porch.

He said the residents had caught Hale, 45, trying to start several fires, including burning an American flag. The trash can fire was started about 5 a.m. and one of the residents called 911 after being unable to extinguish it, Garner said.

Capt. Anthony Moore, fire investigator, said the blaze was put out quickly and damage was limited to the porch. No one was injured.

Chattanooga police took Hale into custody and charged her with aggravated arson.

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