'Witch' in Iowa arrested, charged for setting fire to stranger's porch

On Tuesday, 46-year-old Michelle Young was arrested in Burlington, Iowa, after she set fire to a stranger's porch when they did not answer their front door.

According to a press statement by the Burlington Police Department, the homeowner called them after she received an alert from her security camera, and watched the video as Young allegedly set a fire to the porch.

When officers arrived, Young claimed that it was her friend's house, and admitted to setting the fire with miscellaneous items she found in the area, including clothing. The homeowner said she had never seen the woman before the incident.

"The fire department quickly extinguished the fire and there was minimal damage to the porch," The statement added.

After watching the security footage, authorities verified Young had started the fire, and placed her under arrest for misdemeanor Reckless Use of Fire.

An arrest affidavit obtained by the Hawk Eye, filed with the Des Moines Court, revealed that Young had spent around two hours walking the neighborhood picking up miscellaneous items. She told police that she saw a sign that said "Witches Welcome" at the home and that she was a witch and decided to set some items she had picked up on fire after knocking on the door multiple times.

Police also found a clear glass pipe on the 46-year-old, and she was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor. She was placed on a $5,000 cash bond and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 29.