HARALSON COUNTY, Ga. — A man accused of arson, stalking, and assault in Haralson County turned himself in to police in Kentucky Thursday.
According to the Haralson County Sheriff’s Office, on the morning of September 21, deputies responded to the 600 block of Nitra Road to a report of a domestic dispute.
While on their way to the home, deputies were informed that a man was setting the house on fire.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire.
Investigators determined that Joseph Burns, 31, broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home and assaulted her by striking her in the head.
When 911 was called, deputies say Burns threatened to burn the house down and started a fire in the kitchen, not far from the room the victim’s special needs son was sleeping in.
When the victim got her child out of the home, Burns came out and struck her in the head several more times in front of witnesses.
TRENDING STORIES:
- GDOT inspecting overpass for damage after 2 cars burn in crash on I-285
- 4 shot, including 2 students, on Georgia State University campus, police say
- A metro Atlanta man who impersonates officer arrested after he “pulled over” an off-duty officer
When Burns heard the sirens, he ran into the woods and escaped.
On Thursday, Burns turned himself into law enforcement in Kentucky and is being held on charges of arson in the first degree, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated stalking, stalking, burglary, and criminal trespass.
He will be extradited back to Haralson County in the next few weeks.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
IN OTHER NEWS:
©2023 Cox Media Group
