Detroit police looking for suspect who doused a woman with flammable liquid then set her on fire

Police stated they believe the suspect is 23-year-old Vernon Woods Jr.

He stands 5’3″ and weighs 135 pounds. Police are encouraging anyone with any information on where the suspect may be located to call Detroit Police Sgt. David Sanders at 313-402-7499 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak Up.

In a separate incident, a woman in Wasilla, Alaska told law enforcement officers that she was in possession of a bomb after setting a house on fire earlier in the week. According to Alaska State Troopers spokesman Austin McDaniel, there was no bomb detonated at the house.

When Palmer pre-trial enforcement officers tried to arrest the woman, since identified as 37-year-old Mallory Bloomquist, on a warrant at a residence in Wallisa on the morning of September 16th, she told officers about the bomb.

#Wasilla woman arrested after setting house on fire, troopers say https://t.co/5AJwidA1DU

— Jane New New England Haigh (@janeinak) September 19, 2021

Troopers said they were called in to assist with Bloomquist’s arrest just after 11 a.m. and upon arrival, she stated she was going to set the house on fire.

McDaniel stated that before leaving the house, Bloomquist set it on fire by “igniting combustible liquids inside the residence.” The house has been deemed a total loss. When asked whether there were any bombs at the residence, McDaniel stated that:

“State Troopers and Deputy Fire Marshals located multiple incendiary devices at the residence.”

Those items were not classified as bombs. Bloomquist was arrested on the original warrant and also remanded on other charges related to the incident, including first and second-degree arson, first degree criminal mischief and second-degree terroristic threatening.

In another incident, a man in San Antonio, Texas has been arrested and charged with arson after investigators say he set a fire in his bedroom and then left the house with his bedridden, 95-year-old grandmother inside.

According to an arrest warrant, the suspect, since identified as 37-year-old Sergio Castillo, set fire to the comforter on his bed on September 3rd. His father heard the smoke alarm and ran to find flames nearly reaching the ceiling.

Man set fire in bedroom, left house with bedridden grandmother inside, investigators say https://t.co/bgFMVOojpe

— KSAT 12 (@ksatnews) September 15, 2021

Castillo’s brother told investigators that the father put the fire out with water from the kitchen while Castillo watched through a window from outside the home.

Castillo’s brother called the fire marshal’s office five days after hearing about the fire because he was concerned for his grandmother’s safety and was worried the fire could reignite. The affidavit states that when investigators arrived at the home, they smelled smoke from an open window.

They entered the home through the window after knocks on the door went unanswered. Investigators stated they heard the woman’s voice from inside the home and found her in her bedroom alone. The woman was checked for smoke inhalation, but refused medical treatment.

Adult Care Services was called because the elderly woman had been left unattended. Investigators said they found charred holes on a mattress and ashes in a bedroom, in the living room and hallway leading to the backyard. They found charred bedding on the back porch along with a cigarette lighter.

Castillo was arrested on September 10th and charged with arson of a habitation, which is a felony.