A Clinton woman has been jailed after a heated domestic situation erupted into a blaze inside the residence.
Jacqueline Lee Steed, 53, of 46 Hurricane Lane, Clinton, has been charged with first degree arson. She was taken into custody at the Sampson County Law Enforcement Center Wednesday morning and jailed under $75,000 secured bond.
She is expected to make her initial appearance in court Friday.
According to sheriff’s reports, the incident occurred at the Hurricane Lane residence. It was reported just after 7 a.m. Wednesday.
“Deputies responded with the fire department to a fire at the (46 Hurricane Lane) residence,” Sheriff’s Lt. Marcus Smith said. “Upon arrival, they learned that the suspect had gotten into a domestic dispute and during the dispute the suspect set fire to the inside of the residence. As a result the suspect was charged with arson.”
Smith said he was unsure of the source that started the fire, but said the fire originated in the living room. Steed and another person were inside the home at the time, he noted, but no one was injured during the incident.
“They were the only ones listed at home and since (the incident is) domestic related,” the lieutenant said, “we would rather not list the victim’s name for safety reasons.”
Two male victims are listed in reports, one the 44-year-old owner of the single-wide mobile home and the other a 67-year-old resident of a neighboring address on Hurricane Lane, who is listed in reports as the owner of an automobile that was also burned. It is unclear whether he was involved in the incident.
There was total of $5,500 worth of damage inflicted during the episode, $5,000 to the home, $500 to the 1996 Ford Taurus.