A Poplarville woman was arrested recently after she attempted to set fire to local businesses, a residence and county vehicle in the city of Poplarville.

As a result of the investigation, 25-year-old Shelby Leighann Nowell was arrested for multiple counts of arson and other offenses.

The case began Tuesday at about 10 p.m., when officers with the Poplarville Police Department were dispatched to a barber shop located on Main Street in downtown Poplarville in reference to a fire.

Poplarville Police Chief Butch Raby said officers arrived and spoke with witnesses who were attempting to extinguish the blaze.

Minutes later, officers were sent to another fire at a business off Highway 26 East. They found a garbage can on fire outside the building, Raby said.

While investigating the fires, police noticed that a local tobacco shop had a broken window, leading them to suspect a break-in had occurred.

Surveillance footage obtained from the store owner helped officers identify a possible suspect, Raby said.

Another fire reported at a local residence at about the same time helped the police department positively identify Nowell as the suspect, Raby said.

Raby said Nowell arrested and transported the Pearl River County Jail for four counts of arson.

At this time, Nowell was arrested for four counts of arson, and a count of burglary. She’s currently held at the Pearl River County Jail in lieu of a $40,000 bond and also has a hold from the Louisiana Department of Corrections, Raby said.