Just after midnight on July 6, during a routine patrol at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Henderson Avenue, a Long Beach Police Department officer observed a female arson suspect, Ardath Marie Scott, lighting and throwing a destructive device commonly known as a Molotov cocktail. It was then that Scott was found carrying five additional Molotov cocktails in a bag. The officer immediately arrested her and called for the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) Arson Unit to investigate the incident.
She is currently in custody in lieu of $1,000,000 bail. There were no injuries or property damage. The case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney, who filed four felony counts against Scott, including the use of a destructive device and attempted arson.
“Thanks to the efforts of the Long Beach fire and police [departments], the extremely dangerous acts of this individual were halted before anyone was seriously injured or property was destroyed,” said LBFD Public Information Officer Steve Yamamoto.
