Aggravated mayhem charge filed after Oakland woman set on fire

OAKLAND — Aggravated mayhem and other charges were filed Tuesday against a woman suspected of deliberately setting another woman on fire earlier this month, according to court records and authorities.

The victim, who is in her 30s, remained in stable condition at a San Francisco hospital, where she was being treated for severe burns to the upper half of her body.

The suspect, Angela Parks, 52, was arrested Sunday morning after being spotted driving near where the violent attack happened. She was also charged with vehicle theft and two counts of receiving stolen property — a vehicle. Authorities said she was arrested in the same stolen vehicle in which she fled the April 2 incident.

She was being held without bail and was scheduled to be arraigned in court Wednesday. If convicted of the aggravated mayhem charge she could face a term of life in prison.

The victim was doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire as she sat in a vehicle in the area of 45th Avenue and Bond Street about 2 p.m. April 2, police said.

The victim started running away even with the fire still burning but was found moments later and immediately taken to a hospital.

Police have not been able to confirm if the women know each other.

Using video surveillance, police were able to determine what kind of vehicle the suspect fled in and Parks was seen by patrol officers driving the same vehicle Sunday.

Authorities said Parks admitted her involvement in what happened, but claimed it was an accident and that she was defending herself.

According to court records, Parks has 10 prior felony convictions dating back to 1995, most of which were theft related. She was placed on probation for each conviction, the records say.