Apple Valley woman charged with arson, assault
A 49-year-old Apple Valley woman is accused of attacking her husband with an exercise weight, setting their house on fire and stabbing herself with a screwdriver.
Rhonda Arkley was charged Wednesday with first-degree arson, second-degree assault and fleeing from a peace officer.
She is also accused of throwing gas on her husband and trying to light him afire Dec. 2. When police responded, the house was on fire and she was reportedly in a locked vehicle stabbing herself with a screwdriver.
The complaint says she drove away but was finally arrested after she drove over a spike strip. Police found her again pushing the screwdriver into her chest.
In a statement, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom says Arkley was in a secure hospital and will be jailed upon her release.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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