Woman arrested in southeast Lincoln arson that caused over $80,000 in damage

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A woman was arrested Tuesday in an arson in a southeast Lincoln parking lot last month, police say.

Christal Curry, 31, was lodged at the Lancaster County Jail on suspicion of third-degree arson, felony criminal mischief and false reporting.

On May 15, Lincoln Fire & Rescue crews extinguished four vehicles that caught fire in a parking lot near 91st Street and Nebraska Parkway.

Police estimate the fire, which was later deemed arson, caused $81,000 in damage to the vehicles.

An LFR fire investigator determined the fire started in a Cadillac Escalade.

During an investigation, officers learned Curry had rented the Escalade.  The vehicle had been involved in a crash and was supposed to be returned later that day.

Three days before the fire, Curry took the vehicle to an auto body repair shop to fix the vehicle.  But due to the “significant cost” quoted, the work wasn’t done, LPD said.

Surveillance video from a nearby business showed Curry backing the Escalade into a stall and running away from the vehicle.

Police said she got into another vehicle driven by another woman and left the area.