Woman Charged In Store Arsons

Thu., March 27, 1997

Associated Press

A woman authorities believe set as many as 14 fires in retail stores from southeastern Idaho to Logan, Utah, made her initial court appearance Wednesday on four arson charges.

Rose Bitsuie, 50, who formerly lived in Logan but currently has an American Falls, Idaho, address, was charged with felony arson for setting fires in Chubbuck’s ZCMI department store on Tuesday, at the Wal-Mart on March 7 and the following two Thursday’s at the J.C. Penney store.

Bitsuie was arrested Tuesday afternoon before she could flee the Pine Ridge Mall where she had allegedly torched an apparel rack in ZCMI’s women’s department.

Police Capt. Richard Webb said Bitsuie has admitted setting at least eight fires. In addition to the four she is charged with in Chubbuck, she faces felony arson charges for six other fires set at stores in Logan.

Authorities also suspect Bitsuie set a fire at the Mervyn’s department store in Ogden last Saturday as she traveled to Salt Lake City.

ZCMI manager Don Bushman credited quick thinking by employees and police with holding damage from Tuesday’s fire to just $1,000.

A sales clerk saw the apparel rack go up in flames and immediately called 911. She and a customer also saw Bitsuie near the rack.

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Woman Charged In Store Arsons

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