An argument between a mother and her adult daughter on Dec. 3 led to a fire causing an estimated $50,000 in damage, a trip to the hospital for the mother and a trip to jail for the daughter.
Emily O’Connor, 19, was arraigned over the weekend in 52-2 District Court on one count of arson and one count of assault and battery. Bond was set at $100,000 according to a report from Sgt. Robert Gohl of the Oakland County Sheriff Department Fire Investigation Unit.
Clarkston police, sheriff deputies and the Independence Township Fire Department responded to 149 N. Main Street (at the intersection with Clarkston Road) at about 10:50 a.m. to find thick smoke coming from the home. Firefighters discovered a working fire in a first floor bedroom.
O’Connor had left the scene, but her 56-year-old mother was still present. Paramedics took the elder woman to POH Medical Center-Clarkston, where she was treated for smoke inhalation and released, reports said.
The mother told investigators that she and her daughter had an argument, after which O’Connor piled clothing on the bedroom floor and set it on fire.
While county fire investigators were at the scene, O’Connor returned and confessed to setting the fire, reports said.
Undersheriff Mike McCabe said the assault and battery charge came based on the physical nature of the argument between O’Connor and her mother.
Independence Fire Chief Steve Ronk said one of two cats in the home died as a result of the incident.
Sheriff deputies blocked traffic on M-15 between Clarkston Road and Bluegrass Drive while emergency crews worked at the house.