Woman’s hair set on fire on bus; ex-friend arrested

EVERETT — A Darrington woman has been arrested for investigation of assault after allegedly setting a former friend’s hair on fire while on a Community Transit bus.

Witnesses were able to put the fire out before it could cause any serious damage, according to an arrest report filed by a Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputy assigned to transit detail.

The suspect, 56, reportedly was sitting behind the woman near the middle of the bus on Monday morning. That’s when she allegedly reached up between the seats and lit the woman’s long hair on fire using a Bic lighter and possibly a pump bottle of hair spray.

A passenger reached across the aisle and put out the fire by smacking the woman on the back.

The bus driver called 911.

The deputy credited the quick action of the other passenger.

“Due to the immediate and swift response by the witness to put out the hair on fire, the victim did not suffer any visible injury,” he wrote in a report.

Detectives will review video from the bus.

Deputies took into evidence two Bic lighters and hair spray from the suspect’s purse.

The suspect said the fire was an accident.

The woman already was awaiting trial later this month on a charge of trafficking in stolen property when she was arrested in connection with the bus incident. In that case, she is accused of selling a stolen gold bracelet. The woman whose hair was lit on fire on the bus Monday allegedly helped steal the bracelet from a Darrington home in June 2013.

Court papers listed the relationship between the suspect and the woman as “ex friend.”

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com

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