Elberta Mae Vinson

TIFTON, Ga. — A Tifton woman has been charged with first degree arson after allegedly setting charcoal on fire inside her apartment.

According to an incident report filed at the Tifton Police Department, Sgt. Ferron Yi reported shortly after midnight on June 15 that she made contact with a male subject who asked her to explain the eviction process to his aunt, Elberta Mae Vinson, 56.

He told police that he and his fiancee live with his aunt at Regency Apartments on Virginia Avenue. He said Vinson is trying to kick him out without evicting him. The eviction process was explained to Vinson.

According to the report, Vinson said despite the eviction process, she was going to have her nephew out of her apartment by that Friday, even if she had to leave.

Yi reported that Vinson said she knew that she was violating her lease by allowing her nephew to stay there and admitted to accepting $400 a month from him and also $200 a month off of his EBT card.

Yi advised them to contact the office manager of the apartment complex and to handle the situation civilly. She reported that Vinson was intoxicated and refusing to listen to anything.

After all parties went inside the residence, Yi said while outside, she could hear Vinson and her nephew verbally arguing. They were advised by Lt. Gann to be quiet due to the time of the day and being in an apartment complex. The nephew informed police that he was going to go next door with his fiancee for a while until everyone calmed down. Police then left the scene.

Yi reported that at approximately 1:10 a.m., she was sent back to the apartment complex in reference to a fire. She made contact with the nephew and his fiancee, who said while they were next door with the maintenance man, Vinson set charcoal on fire inside her apartment.

Yi said there was charcoal all over the living room floor that had been burned and also some that was still burning. She noted it still smelled as if the charcoal was just recently burned and there was smoke still coming from some of the coals.

There was also a long-stem lighter in the living room on a small table close to where the charcoal was scattered on the ground. Due to this, the carpet was damaged with holes in several spots. Officer Campbell removed the burning charcoal from the apartment.

According to the report, Vinson said she had no idea how the fire and damage to the carpet happened. Her nephew and his fiancee said Vinson made a comment to them that it would be a shame if the apartment burned down while they were sleeping.

Yi reported that Vinson nonchalantly told her that she didn’t know how the fire occurred and claimed to have been walking her dogs while the fire started.

Vinson said when she returned, she observed the fire and sat outside. Yi asked her why she didn’t call the police upon seeing the fire, and Vinson didn’t give an adequate answer.

After the maintenance man confirmed that the nephew and his fiancee were with him at his apartment at the time of the fire, Vinson was then arrested. The office manager was informed of the fire and damages.