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VAN NUYS (CNS) - A woman was charged Friday with setting a series of fires in the Sherman Oaks area.
Jacqueline Whatley, 36, pleaded not guilty to two counts each of attempted murder and arson of a structure or forest, nine counts of arson of property of another and one count of vandalism with $400 or more in damage or destruction of property.
The criminal complaint alleges that the crimes occurred on a half- dozen streets in Sherman Oaks, including the 4600 block of Nagle Avenue, where firefighters battled heavy flames early Wednesday at a 1,409-square-foot, one- story home.
About 11:20 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters went to the 13800 block of Ventura Boulevard on a report of an "outside fire" that extended to a flower shop in a block-long row of commercial buildings, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The fire extended to the 3,000-square-foot, one-story flower shop, and was extinguished in 23 minutes by the firefighters, who prevented the flames from spreading to adjacent buildings, Humphrey said.
That blaze was among several vegetation and/or debris fires that occurred in the general area at the time, according to Humphrey. No injuries were reported.
On Wednesday afternoon, LAFD officials issued a statement confirming the fires at the flower shop and the home were "intentional acts" and that a suspect had been arrested.
Whatley has remained behind bars since her arrest Wednesday.
Fox 11 reported that Whatley was arrested over the weekend for allegedly setting fires in the Los Feliz area, however, jail records show she was then booked and released on her own recognizance, in accordance with the county's new zero-bail policy.
She is due back in a Van Nuys courtroom Nov. 1. A date is scheduled to be set then for a hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence to allow the case against her to proceed to trial.