A 23-year-old Marshan Township woman was arrested and is being held in the Dakota County Jail with bail set at $50,000 after she allegedly tried to set fire to a house after becoming upset that she was told she shouldn’t be smoking.
Kara Lyn Lane was charged with 2nd degree arson, a felony, as well as misdemeanor domestic assault. Dakota County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded March 21 to a domestic assault in progress at a residence in Marshan Township. The woman who shares the residence with Lane told deputies she was on the phone with her when she was riding her bike to town to buy cigarettes. The woman reportedly told Lane she shouldn’t smoke, and they argued.
Lane was allegedly upset when she returned home and grabbed a broom handle from the woman and hit her with it approximately five times, causing bruising.
When deputies attempted to place Lane under arrest, she allegedly ran back in the house. “Lane continued to run in and out of the house screaming, yelling and throwing items (bottles, cans and hand tools) at officers” the complaint states. Lane then reportedly ran from the house and deputies apprehended her.
While making the arrest, officers saw thick smoke coming from the rear of the home. “Officers attempted to enter the home to address the fire but were quickly overwhelmed by smoke. Upon entry, law enforcement could hear clicking coming from the stove igniter,” the complaint states. The Hastings Fire Department arrived and extinguished the fire, which appeared to have been intentionally set in two places. The fire damaged much of the home’s kitchen and a wall leading to the dining room.
Lane admitted hitting the victim and starting a fire on the stove.
The fire scene was turned over to the state fire marshal.
An omnibus hearing is scheduled for April 17 in Dakota County Court.