CHARLOTTE - Charlotte’s Fire Investigation Task Force has arrested and charged Susan Elaine Davidson with setting fires to homes in the Dilworth Neighborhood.  Ms. Davidson has been charged with two counts of First Degree Arson for the fires at homes located at 617 Dorothy Drive and 633 Dorothy Drive.  She also has been charged with Burning an Uninhabited House at 612 Dorothy Drive and burning grass, brush or woodlands at 613 Dorothy Drive.

Ms. Davidson, a resident of the Dilworth Neighborhood, lives very close to most of the 15 homes where arson fires have been reported since December, 2005.  She remains a suspect in the remainder of the fires that are still under investigation.  Many of the fires involved the lighting of pine straw or other combustible materials.  These intentionally set fires included both occupied and unoccupied houses.  The most recent occurred at 538 Olmstead Park early yesterday morning.  The home there suffered an estimated $5,000 in damage.

Currently, Ms. Davidson is in custody in the Mecklenburg County Jail.

The Fire Investigation Task Force, made up of investigators from the Charlotte Fire Department, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the State Bureau of Investigation, worked tirelessly to gather the necessary evidence to be able to charge Ms. Davidson today.

Hopefully today’s arrest will ease some fears and concerns that residents in the Dilworth Neighborhood have rightfully felt.  We ask for their patience and cooperation as the investigation into the remaining fires continue.  Anyone with information that could be valuable to this case should call the Fire Investigation Task Force or CrimeStoppers at (704) 334-1600.