A Reading woman accused of setting fire to an occupied home in Kempton last month was held for court following a preliminary hearing Monday.<\/p>\n
Trisha K. Seltzer, 37, was returned to Berks County Jail in lieu of $50,000 following the hearing before District Judge Kim L. Bagenstose in Hamburg.<\/p>\n
Court records indicate that after the hearing, Bagenstose reduced the bail amount to $50,000 from $100,000, the figure set at Seltzer\u2019s arraignment on April 20.<\/p>\n
Bagenstose bound all charges filed by state police to Berks County Court, including aggravated arson, reckless endangerment, risking a catastrophe, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.<\/p>\n
Troopers from the Hamburg station arrested Seltzer on the same block as the fire after firefighters reported seeing the suspect walk from the home.<\/p>\n
According to the probable cause affidavit:<\/p>\n
A man called 911 on April 20 at 2:38 p.m. to report a fire in the residence in the 3300 block of Route 737 in the Albany Township village. Dispatchers heard the smoke detector alarm in the background.<\/p>\n
The man told the investigator that he was in his second-floor bedroom when he smelled smoke, then heard the smoke alarm. As he headed down the stairs to investigate, he encountered Seltzer standing on the first floor.<\/p>\n
He noticed fire in the basement stairwell. Smoke was coming from the steps, and the flames were spreading.The man used a cloth to smother the flames before calling 911 and leaving the home.<\/p>\n
While firefighters were on the scene, they were informed that Selzer was trying to leave on foot. A deputy fire chief requested state police assistance, describing the woman leaving the scene.<\/p>\n
Two troopers responded and found Seltzer a few houses south of the incident. She was uncooperative and was told she was under arrest. She struggled with troopers as they tried to take her into custody.<\/p>\n
After being taken to the ground, she placed her arms under her body so she couldn\u2019t be easily handcuffed. Troopers needed to use substantial force to overcome her resistance.<\/p>\n
Trooper Corey Heimbach and Dayton Dell, fire investigators with the Troop L fire marshal\u2019s unit, determined the fire originated along the stairwell wall where the stairwell opens up to the basement ceiling.<\/p>\n
Fire damage was isolated to two pieces of wood paneling, with smoke damage extending to the first floor.<\/p>\n
The fire was determined to be incendiary, meaning someone ignited it with malicious intent by introducing a flame or heat source.<\/p>\n
A cigarette lighter was found in Seltzer\u2019s sweatshirt pocket. During an interview at the Hamburg barracks, she admitted using the lighter to start the fire.<\/p>\n
The affidavit provided no information on possible motive, nor did it describe the nature of the relationship between Seltzer and the home\u2019s occupant.<\/p>\n
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