Social Media Post Leads to Arrest, Conviction in Milwaukee Warehouse Arson
When Ellen Stevens, 23, posted photos and videos of herself in an abandoned building, she didn't know it would lead to her arrest for arson.
A person called police after seeing the post from Stevens showing her in the building, with a caption stating, "I may or may not have lit the bando (sic) on fire today on accident," fox6now reported.
Stevens and three friends went into the former Greenbaum Tannery on May 20. She said she flicked a cigarette butt through a hole in the roof. When the group was leaving, they noticed a smoldering fire, thought they had stamped it out and then left.
Piople seeing flames and smoke coming from the four-story building flooded the 9-1-1 center. Milwaukee firefighters requested additional staffing to assist with the incident.
It reached five-alarms.
During a court hearing, Stevens, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor negligent handling of burning materials, said: "I want to say how sorry I am to Holy Redeemer, the firefighters, the surrounding community – anybody that might have been touched by this accident."
She was sentenced to 12 months of probation, pay $6,000 in restitution and ordered to perfrom 200 hours of community service.
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Susan Nicol
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Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.