A Sedalia woman is behind bars after police accuse her of setting fire to her apartment around noon Monday, Apr. 20.

A probable cause statement identifies 36-year-old Jessaray Merriott of starting a fire in her bedroom that resulted in damage to her apartment on Albright Court, as well as smoke entering adjacent units. First responders arrived at the scene just after noon and discovered smoke in Merriott’s apartment, evacuating six residents from nearby units. Officers then asked Merriott about the fire, to which she allegedly responded that she started the fire with a match and clothes stashed under her bed. The statement adds that when officers asked Merriott why that occurred, she responded, “I’m gangster.”

Officers add that their investigation of the apartment after firefighters extinguished the blaze found matches in the bedroom, as well as a charred wall and ceiling near the bed and soot covering the walls throughout the unit. The apartment’s manager told police that she estimated the damage to be at least $15,000.

Merriott is facing a first-degree arson charge, with bond set at $100,000. An initial hearing date is pending in Pettis County Circuit Court.