Texas AG says woman arrested for dumpster fire behind office, slams media over ‘reckless speculation’

The Texas Attorney General’s Office said a 42-year-old woman was arrested in connection with unintentionally setting fire to a dumpster outside its office.

State Attorney General Ken Paxton also assailed the local media who he said “misled the public about the nature of this crime.”

In a tweet, Paxton’s office said the unidentified woman was seen Wednesday discarding what appeared to be a lit cigarette into a dumpster behind the building in Austin. 

Security footage captured a dumpster fire behind the building that houses the Texas Attorney General’s office. Authorities determined the blaze was set unintentionally.  (Texas Attorney General’s Office)

The Texas Department of Public Safety questioned the woman and determined the fire was unintentional, Paxton said. She was charged with criminal mischief equal to or greater than $25,000 but less than $30,000. 

PHILADELPHIA POLICE FIND ’18-INCH’ PIPE BOMB BEHIND CATHOLIC CHURCH

Surveillance footage released by Paxton’s office shows flames coming from the dumpster before the blaze was eventually extinguished.  

A woman unintentionally set fire to a dumpster outside Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office. Paxton criticized media coverage of the incident. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

While the fire was determined not to have been set on purpose, Paxton criticized media coverage of the

View Source