Initially, police were called to an apartment in the 700 block of Villa Ridge Parkway at the Villas at Sugarloaf Apartments to investigate a noise complaint.
The officers reported that they heard loud music coming from the apartment around 1:00 a.m. Police said a woman identified as Mamie Althea Van Douglas, 32, came to the back door when officers knocked. She was asked to turn the music down so that officers could question her about the reason for the noise.
Police said Douglas then went down the hallway as officers stood outside the back door. After a few minutes, officers noticed that the music was still loud and that Douglas had not returned as instructed. They also saw smoke in the hallway and entered the apartment to investigate further. The officers discovered the floor and wall on fire in a hallway bathroom. One officer doused the flames with a portable fire extinguisher as the other officer checked the apartment for occupants. Douglas apparently fled out the front door.
Gwinnett County fire investigators were called at that point and said they found numerous wooden matches scattered about the bathroom that had been ignited.
Police searched the surrounding area and located Douglas a short time later at a nearby Quick Trip on Sugarloaf Parkway and Marathon Boulevard. Douglas was taken into custody.
Fire investigators later charged Douglas with one-count of 1st Degree Arson.
Douglas was reportedly staying at the apartment with a relative at the time of the incident. She was the only one home at the time and no injuries were reported. A motive for setting the fire has not been released.
Mamie Althea Van Douglas
http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/3/227956