TULSA. OKLA. — A Tulsa woman was arrested late Tuesday afternoon after she stole more than $1,300 worth of merchandise and then set the Walmart bathroom on fire, police say.
Kerri Jo Schlemme is in the Tulsa County jail on multiple complaints of unauthorized use of a credit card, first-degree arson, grand larceny and arson that endangers human life.
Officers say there were more than 500 people in the store at 81st and Lewis when she reportedly set a fire in an apparent attempt to distract from her escape at the fire exit.
According to an arrest report, Schlemme would stage a shopping cart near the fire exit, then leave and return with more merchandise.
At one point, Schlemme went to the women’s restroom, then left, and people reported it filled with smoke as she was seen headed toward the fire exit, the report says.
The report says Schlemme was accompanied by a man, who would put things in the cart, but it doesn’t name him.
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