By Thomas Geyer
Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus, Ill.

DAVENPORT, Iowa — A Davenport woman is facing charges after authorities say she started a fire in a local hospital’s emergency room and is suspected of multiple burglaries.

Marissa Cheyanne Padavich, 28, is charged with first-degree arson, a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a 25-year prison sentence.

According to arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Borough Chief Nate Wilson, Davenport firefighters and 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 department.

She was identified as the sole occupant of the room where the fire started and was seen on security video in the area where the fire started just before she alerted hospital staff to the fire in the room. Padavich was also found in possession of a lighter.

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

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Davenport Police Officer Benjamin Betsworth, while in the back of the car, Padavich pulled a lighter from the breast pocket of his hospital gown and tried to start a fire in the back of the car. She managed to melt a small piece of plastic on the seat belt buckle.

Padavich is also charged with second-degree burglary, a Class D felony that carries a five-year prison sentence.

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

Padavich is also charged with second-degree attempted burglary.

According to the 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 was trying to get into the basement and his foot was inside. She asked the resident not to call the police and left the area on foot. The resident took the officers to the garage and told them he might be in the garage. Officers 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 arrest affidavits filed by Officer Betsworth, Padavich was caught on security cameras trying to enter a garage. The owner confronted her.

Padavich was holding a gas can at the time and threw the can at the owner. She is charged with attempted third-degree burglary, an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a two-year prison sentence, and assault with bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor.

During an initial appearance on the charges Monday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Cynthia Taylor scheduled a preliminary hearing for Nov. 26.

Padavich was being held Tuesday morning in the Scott County Jail on cash-only bonds totaling $39,000, set by Taylor.

Padavich is currently on probation until February 1, 2026, in Scott County. She was sentenced during a hearing in Scott County District Court on February 1, 2024, to two years of probation after pleading guilty to the lesser included charge of failing to exceed 25 mph, a Class D felony. She also pleaded guilty to the lesser included charge of operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, an aggravated misdemeanor.

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