Petersburg man arrested after setting former co-worker on fire, police say

A Petersburg man was arrested yesterday about 25 minutes after police said he set a former co-worker on fire and then fled on a public bus.

The 35-year-old victim, whom police didn't identify, suffered burns to her head and was airlifted to VCU Medical Center, where she was in serious but stable condition yesterday, police said.

Henry Morton, 51, was charged with aggravated malicious wounding in the 8:35 a.m. assault, which occurred in the parking lot of the Petersburg East Complex at 110 Croatan Drive in the city's eastern end. Morton had been fired as a maintenance worker at the apartment complex Monday, police said.

"He was disgruntled from being terminated," police spokeswoman Esther Hyatt said.

The victim didn't fire Morton, but she worked in the same office as the person who did, Hyatt said.

Hyatt said Morton first hit the victim in the head with an object before dousing her with a flammable liquid and igniting it. Several people, including children, witnessed the attack.

After the assault, witnesses directed authorities to a Petersburg Area Transit bus stop on Washington Street, where they believed Morton had boarded a bus. Police then issued a special alert to all public transportation employees. A bus driver saw a passenger who fit Morton's description and called police.

Morton was arrested without incident shortly before 9 a.m.

Contact Mark Bowes at (804) 649-6450 or .