Woman accused of trying to set fire to Montgomery County Sheriff’s cruiser

UPDATE @ 11:25 p.m.: A Dayton woman remains in jail on a charge accusing her of trying to set fire to a Montgomery County Sheriff's cruiser.

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A Federal Building security officer near the county Common Pleas Court building, in the 100 block of North Perry Street in Dayton said he noticed a woman, later identified as 29-year-old Kristina Cook, pouring charcoal lighter fuel on a sheriff’s cruiser about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Dayton police incident report filed Wednesday.

The car was parked near the court building, the security officer said.

Once police were called, smoke led both officers to an additional fire in a flower bed near the Dayton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse.

The fire was quickly extinguished and Cook was taken into custody.

Cook later informed police she wanted to light the cruiser on fire and that she started the fire in the flower bed to “burn the federal building down.”

The cruiser did not sustain any fire damage, but it was found to be wet from lighter fluid being poured on it. Two bottles of charcoal fluid were found on the hood of the cruiser and there was a partially burned match on one of the windshield wipers, according to the report.

Cook was booked into the Montgomery County jail pending the formal filing of misdemeanor arson and felony attempted arson charges.

Sheriff Rob Streck offered this statement about the incident:

“The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office takes any vandalism seriously and we will prosecute anyone that damages our equipment which is paid for by the tax payers.

“Luckily, this situation didn’t result in any injuries or loss of property.

“With that being said, the greater issue in these types of crimes often surrounds the lack of mental health facilities and resources available in the community. Once the suspect was booked into the jail, our staff began mental health protocols in order to get the individual the treatment needed.”