Woman who allegedly set fire to MercyOne Genesis emergency room charged with arson

Marissa Cheyanne Padavich, 28, is charged with first-degree arson, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison under Iowa law.

According to an arrest affidavit filed by Davenport District Chief Nate Wilson, firefighters and Davenport police officers were dispatched to MercyOne Genesis Medical Center-East Campus, Davenport, at 3:15 p.m. Sunday for a report of a fire.

Padavich is accused of setting fire to a box in the emergency room.

Security camera footage in the area where the fire started was seen just before the woman, who was determined to be the only resident of the room where the fire started, warned the hospital staff about the fire in the room. Padavich was also found to be carrying a lighter.

Padavich is also charged with reckless discharge of fire, a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison.

While in the back of the squad car, Padavich pulled a lighter from the breast pocket of his hospital gown and attempted to start a fire in the back of the squad car, according to an arrest affidavit filed by Davenport police Officer Benjamin Betsworth. He managed to melt a small piece of plastic in the seat belt buckle.

Padavich is also charged with second-degree burglary, a Class D felony punishable by five years in prison.

According to an arrest affidavit filed by Davenport police Cpl. Michael Schneider stole a 2015 Honda Grom motorcycle from the front yard of a residence in the 1400 block of South Nevada Avenue, Padavich, at 2 a.m. Saturday morning.

Padavich is also charged with attempted second-degree burglary.

According to an arrest affidavit filed by Davenport police Cpl. Gordon Morse, officers responded to a home in the 1300 block of West 38th Street at 10 a.m. Saturday to investigate a burglary.

Padavich used his foot to break the basement window and was caught by the resident. Padavich kept his leg in as he tried to get into the basement. The woman asked the citizen not to call the police and left the area on foot. The resident took officers to the garage and said he might be in the garage. Police located the stolen Honda motorcycle.

At 4:20 p.m. Saturday, officers then responded to the 1600 block of West 34th Street to investigate a report of a suspicious person.

According to an arrest affidavit filed by Officer Betsworth, Padavich was caught on security cameras trying to break into a garage. The owner confronted him.

Padavich was holding a gas can at the time and threw the can at its owner. He is charged with attempted third-degree burglary, an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by two years in prison, and assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor.