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Woman accused of trying to burn City Hall

By DAN POMPILI 3 min read
Gurley

YOUNGSTOWN -- A woman is in jail after police say she tried to set fire to Youngstown City Hall.

A Youngstown police report states that Jasmina Gurley was arrested Wednesday evening after a passerby notified police that someone was outside trying to set fire to the building.

She is due to appear for a video arraignment in Youngstown Municipal Court this morning, where she faces one count of aggravated arson, a second-degree felony.

Police said they saw her pour suspected gasoline on the front steps of City Hall and then set it on fire, shortly after 6 p.m. while a city council meeting was in progress.

Online court records have not been updated, as of Thursday afternoon, but the report states Gurley was arrested on suspicion of aggravated arson.

Police found Gurley, dressed in black, throwing a liquid from a gas can and water bottle onto the entrance door, steps, side of the building and a flower bed near an exit.

Gurley then ignited the liquid with a lighter, according to police.

Gurley was screaming about data centers coming to the city when police confronted her. She still had the lighter in her hand, according to the police report.

On Monday, -- just two days before Gurley's arrest -- New York-based Valor Energy Inc. announced an agreement to acquire an existing computing center at 1911 Logan Ave. for $3.6 million, with plans to convert it into an artificial intelligence data center.

The report states police ordered Gurley to put the lighter down. She held it near her waist before dropping it and sitting on the ground. Police then ordered her to lie on her stomach and place her hands behind her back before taking her into custody.

Another officer arrived with a fire extinguisher and put out the flames before the fire department arrived.

Gurley was searched and placed in a police cruiser. Emergency medical staff examined her for burns but found none. She refused further medical treatment.

Gurley was transported to the Mahoning County jail, where she remained as of Thursday afternoon.

In Ohio, aggravated arson can be either a first- or second-degree felony. The distinction is between the risk of substantial harm to an occupied structure or specifically to a person or persons other than the accused.

If convicted, she would face anywhere from two to eight years in prison.

The report does not specify whether any damage was done to the building.

Starting at /week.