Rochester woman accused of setting multiple fires, assaulting police officer and hospital staff

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — A Rochester woman faces multiple charges, including arson, assaulting a police officer and medical staff, after she allegedly committed several crimes over in less than a week.

Police and fire crews responded to a fire inside a house on Fifth Street Thursday. When crews arrived, they found a second fire outside the two-family apartment building. Two adults and two children under the age of 2 were able to get out of one of the apartments on fire.

Investigators say 36-year-old Takesha Rogers lives in one of the apartments and intentionally set the fires after a domestic dispute. Police arrested Rogers Thursday and charged her with second-degree arson. Rochester Police say a grand jury may consider additional charges.

Rogers was previously arrested and released July 18 for three other fires on Bergen Street and additional crimes she allegedly committed July 17 through 18.

On July 17, Rogers allegedly set a fire in a field on Bergen Street. Police say she was not at the scene when first responders arrived, and the fire was put out.

On July 18, police and fire crews responded to another fire in the field on Bergen Street at around 6:35 p.m. Officers saw Rogers with materials used to set the fire and a large kitchen knife. She allegedly menaced police with the knife before getting in her car and speeding away.

About five hours later, crews were called to Bergen Street again. Rogers was still on scene, and police took her into custody for all three fires on Bergen Street. She allegedly bit an officer during her arrest. She was then taken to the hospital, where police say she assaulted medical staff.

Rogers was released from the hospital on July 20 and arraigned in Rochester City Court on three counts of reckless endangerment of property, menacing a police officer, second-degree assault of a police officer, and third-degree assault on medical staff.

She was released on her own recognizance.

No injuries were reported in any of the alleged incidents.