Felton Wendel Teasley Jr., 25, was arrested Sunday in connection with an alleged arson fire the day before at the home he formerly shared with his girlfriend at Oak Hill apartments, Athens-Clarke County police said.
According to the girlfriend, she wanted to end her relationship with Teasley and told him to move out Saturday, when he allegedly lit some clothes on fire in a closet, police said. The fire set off the apartment’s sprinkler system and caused the building’s occupants to be evacuated. Police said they put out the fire with an extinguisher.
Water from the sprinkler system caused an estimated $10,000 in damages to the woman’s apartment and the one directly below, according to police. Teasley fled the scene but was located and arrested the next day, police said. He was charged with first-degree arson and criminal damage to property.
Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and services by calling Project Safe’s 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting http://www.project-safe.org/.
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Reporting on lives and property saved by fire sprinklers