NEWS RELEASE - Aggravated Arson
SHILOH POLICE DEPARTMENT
Case Number: #20-510
Contact: Detective Jake Kienitz
Contact Number: 618-632-9047
On Thursday, May 28th, 2020 at approximately 10:25 a.m., Shiloh Officers were dispatched to the 1st block of York Port Drive for an active structure fire of an apartment building. Upon arrival, smoke and flames could be seen coming from inside an apartment. A tenant of the apartment in question was detained after she caused damage to a nearby unoccupied business in front of Officers on-scene. The female tenant made statements indicating that she caused the fire. The Office of the State of Illinois Fire Marshall responded to assist with the investigation. The results of this investigation were submitted to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.
On Friday, May 29th, 2020, Assistant State’s Attorney Bernadette Schrempp issued a three-count warrant: #20CF0069401 for Aggravated Arson, a Class X Felony; #20CF0069402 for Residential Arson, a Class 1 Felony; and #20CM0001435 for Knowingly Damage Property less than $500, a Class A Misdemeanor, charging Brenda G. Simpson, 56, of the 1st block of York Port Drive, Shiloh, Illinois with the above crimes.
The three-count warrant was reviewed by St. Clair County Judge Robert Haida who set Simpson’s bond at $100,000 with 10% applying. Simpson is currently in custody at the St. Clair County Jail for want of bond.
The Shiloh Police Department would like to thank the East Side Fire Department, O’Fallon Fire Department, Swansea Fire Department, as well as the State Fire Marshall’s Office for their assistance and response to the scene.
*All persons are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
