Fri, 26 May 2023

Texas AG says woman arrested for dumpster fire behind office,

slams media over 'reckless speculation'

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton criticized

the media and other public figures over coverage of the incident

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.

The Texas Department of Public Safety questioned nal,

the woman and determined the fire was unintentio

Paxton said. She was charged with

criminal mischief equal to or greater than $25,000 but less than $30,000

Surveillance footage released by Paxton's office shows flames coming from

the dumpster before the blaze was eventually extinguished.

While the fire was determined not to have been set on purpose,

Paxton criticized media coverage of the incident.

I strongly condemn the irresponsible and reckless speculation

by journalists and other public figures," he said