Suspect in Tuesday Morning Arson Attacks Arrested after Standoff with Law Enforcement 8-7-24

MAGNOLIA, TX -- Early Tuesday morning, Firefighters with the Magnolia Fire Department responded to reports of a fire in 26000 block of Rhode Island Street in southwest Montgomery County. The first arriving crews reported three vehicles and the front of a home were on fire. A family of 4 in the burning home were forced to flee out the back door to escape the fire.

Fire Investigators from the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene and determined that the fires were intentionally set. During the investigation, they identified a suspect who lived in the neighborhood. The suspect had retreated to her home and was uncooperative when Officers from the MCFMO and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department attempted to make contact with her.

As the investigation continued, Investigators developed sufficient evidence to obtain a arrest warrant for the suspect, identified as Christine Riley. The Officers on the scene learned that she was possibly in possession of a firearm and in the midst of a mental health crisis. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and the Crisis Negotiation Team were called in to assist with the execution of the arrest warrant. As a result of their efforts, Riley was successfully apprehended without incident, approximately 12 hours after this criminal episode had begun. She was then transported by EMS to a hospital for evaluation, before being booked into the Montgomery County Jail on a 1st Degree Felony Arson charge.

The Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office would like to recognize the efforts of all the agencies involved for bringing this incident to a safe and successful conclusion.

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