Former employee threatened to burn down local business, Olympia police say

A 56-year-old woman was arrested a few weeks ago on suspicion of attempted arson after she showed up at her former workplace and threatened to set it on fire, according to Olympia police.

About 11 a.m. Sept. 18, the owner of the clothing business in the 100 block of Capitol Way North had just opened the doors when the woman entered it, holding a lighter and a piece of cardboard that was on fire.

She then yelled she was going to burn the place down, said police Lt. Paul Lower.

The owner reacted by running up to the woman and stamping out the fire. She then called 911 while the suspect paced around the store, reportedly making nonsensical remarks, Lower said.

The woman had worked for the business for about three months before being fired about a week prior to the incident, Lower said.

This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 10:28 AM.