HAMILTON COUNTY, Fla. — A man is facing multiple felony charges after deputies say a domestic battery incident escalated into an apartment fire early Tuesday morning.
According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began just before 2:00 a.m. on April 2, when a 911 call was received reporting a domestic disturbance at a local apartment complex. The victim told dispatchers she had been battered and was being prevented from leaving the apartment.
Authorities said the victim later called back, stating she had managed to hide in a separate location while waiting for deputies. In a subsequent call, she reported that the suspect had started a fire inside the apartment.
During the incident, officials said the suspect placed multiple 911 calls without a valid reason. Fire crews from the Hamilton County Fire Department, Jasper Fire Department, and Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene.
Deputies evacuated residents from the apartment complex as emergency crews worked to contain the situation. While managing the scene, law enforcement received a separate call about a suspicious person nearby. A responding deputy located the individual and identified him as the suspect.
Antonio Jones was detained and brought back to the scene, where he was positively identified by the victim.
Several hours later, deputies were informed that the victim’s dog was missing. Firefighters re-entered the apartment and located the dog alive.
Jones was arrested and charged with four counts of Arson in the First Degree, False Imprisonment, Aggravated Battery, and Misuse of 911 Services.
Officials said several families were displaced due to the fire. A victim advocate with the Sheriff’s Office responded to assist those affected.
Sheriff Creech commended the coordinated response of first responders, noting their efforts helped ensure the safety of residents and led to the suspect’s arrest.
Due to Marcy’s Law, the victim’s name and the exact location of the incident were not released.