A transient woman accused of setting a pickup on fire early Thursday morning made a first appearance in Clark County Superior Court on Friday.
Shelly A. Monahan, 21, appeared to face allegations of second-degree arson, stemming from the incident in the parking lot of the Fred Meyer at 11325 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd.
A witness, Jacqueline Mackenzie, called 911 shortly before 12:40 a.m. to report a woman, later identified as Monahan, had set a vehicle on fire and then fled the scene, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.
Arriving officers were directed to a nearby restaurant where they found Monahan and took her into custody. Mackenzie identified her as the woman she saw fleeing from the burning vehicle. Monahan was reportedly still clutching a lighter in her hand when police contacted her, the affidavit said.
Police said Monahan initially identified herself as “Chelsea” and then “Baby Luv,” before providing her true name. In an interview with police, she denied starting the fire and said Baby Luv did it. She then asked for an attorney and repeatedly asked how much time she would get in prison for committing arson, according to court documents.
Monahan said the vehicle belonged to someone who “called the cops on me for no reason,” the affidavit said.
Mackenzie told police that Monahan had borrowed a gas can from her and told Mackenzie she was going to try to drive the pickup, as she was stranded there. She added that she didn’t see Monahan set the fire, but she did see her at the pickup by herself, and when flames started, she saw her flee, court records said.
The vehicle was registered to a person named Shirley Tyler. Police said efforts to contact Tyler during their initial investigation were unsuccessful. The interior of the vehicle was destroyed and remnants of a gas can were found in the bed of the pickup, according to court documents.
During her hearing on Friday, Judge David Gregerson appointed Vancouver attorney Louis Byrd Jr. to represent Monahan.
Gregerson ordered that she remain in custody without bail.
Monahan is scheduled to appear in court Monday to order a competency review.
