BUFFALO CITY, Wis. — A disheveled woman was arrested sitting in her driveway after a report of trying to kill a family member, stabbing him with a pocketknife, and setting fires all over the house. Deputies said Tonia J. Schwanke, 45, was surrounded in the driveway by charred clothing when they arrived. She was taken 11 miles to the Buffalo County jail in Alma. The arrest was in the early morning on North Humboldt Street. Deputies were told that Schwanke attacked the victim with a small pocketknife, puncturing his right arm and cutting his left ear. During the attack, witnesses said, she threatened to kill him. Later, deputies were told, Schwanke threatened to burn the house down and proceeded to set fire to newspapers in the kitchen, her bedroom and a mudroom. Deputies described the fire damage as extensive. A preliminary breath test showed Schwanke’s blood alcohol content at 0.18% — Anything more than 0.08% is considered impairment
Schwanke. Deputies understood the fires followed the stabbing by several hours.