A Chicago woman is facing an arson charge after police say she set fire to her romantic rival’s vehicle in Evanston.
On August 2, at about 3 p.m., Evanston police and firefighters responded to a vehicle fire in the 300 block of Custer Street. The vehicle was uninhabited, so firefighters extinguished the fire. Nobody was wounded.
Witnesses reported seeing a woman crouched near the car just before the fire started and then departing in another vehicle. Detectives eventually discovered that the car’s owner had a dispute with a woman, allegedly a romantic rival, identified as 28-year-old Sammesha Lewis of Chicago.
During the inquiry, investigators discovered probable cause to arrest Lewis. Evergreen Park police arrested her on Friday and transported her to Evanston. Police say Lewis agreed to meet with detectives but denied any participation.
On Saturday, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved a felony arson charge.
Lewis is set to appear in court again on October 9 in Skokie.
