LPD: Wife uses sledgehammer on 26 slot machines, sets clothes on fire

Adriana Lopez, 53, was arrested on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 in Laredo for allegedly breaking 26 slot machines with a sledgehammer and setting her husband's clothing on fire leading to damage to their residence.

A woman was arrested for allegedly breaking 26 slot machines with a sledgehammer owned by her husband and setting his clothing on fire leading to damage to their residence, according to arrest records.

Adriana Lopez was arrested on May 3. The 53-year-old woman was charged with Criminal Mischief >=$20K<$100K, a third-degree felony.

Lopez faced a $10,000 bond. She was released the same day she was booked.

The incident occurred on Jan. 6. The Laredo Police Department responded to the 6200 block of McPherson Road at around 2:06 a.m. to find a warehouse that was on fire.

After the fire department had managed to extinguish some of the flames so that police could enter, a door was found inside that had signs of being forced open. Inside of it there was a room that "appeared to be ransacked," records state.

Police said the room featured around 30 electric slot machines. Around 26 featured damage to their screens while three large TVs were also thrown on the floor.

Police also said that the living space in the warehouse was also ransacked, including a damaged desktop computer.

The owner of the property was contacted by local police and returned to the warehouse at around 4 a.m. He said that he had been in a verbal altercation with his wife, Lopez, and that he had left the residence. He said he suspected his wife was responsible for the damage "since she was the only one in the building after he left."

As the warehouse had numerous security cameras, police looked at the footage. The video allegedly did show Lopez damaging property. She was reportedly seen breaking through the door that leads to the slot machines by using a chair. She then reportedly used a sledgehammer to destroy the slot machines.

Lopez was then seen allegedly gathering her husband's clothing and taking it outside to set on fire before fleeing the area, records state.

Police determined that around $72,000 in damages occurred. The man did declare he wished to press charges against his wife. A possible arson case was also being filed by the LFD.

The Special Investigations Unit spoke to Lopez on Feb. 8. She reportedly told the detectives that she had taken prescription medication for stress and sleep deprivation due to issues they were having.

Lopez said that the two were fighting when her husband left the residence, according to the complaint. Lopez then admitted to causing the damage and the fire due to "so much frustration and anger" building up from previous issues.