Va. woman set boyfriend on fire, tried to thwart 911 call, police say

A Fairfax County woman who allegedly set her boyfriend on fire and then grabbed a cell phone from someone trying to call for help has been charged with malicious wounding, assault and interrupting an emergency call, the county police said Monday.

Police said the incident occurred about 2:45 a.m. Sunday in the 3400 block of Payne Street, which is near Leesburg Pike in the Bailey's Crossroads area of the county.

They said the woman allegedly doused her boyfriend with rubbing alcohol then set him afire. A 24-year-old woman who lived in the home heard screams, and tried to call police, officials said.

But, police said, the assailant allegedly grabbed the phone and pushed the woman in what they described as an attempt to thwart the call for help.

Police said Ingrid Herrera, 29, was arrested and charged in the incident.

They said the man, who is also 29, suffered burns to the upper half of his body. He was taken to Washington Hospital Center with wounds described as non-life threatening.