Police Say Woman Tried to Burn Deputy Alive

July 7, 2017
A woman was arrested after she set fire to a Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputy's home and attempted to burn him alive on the Fourth of July.

A woman was arrested after she set fire to a Hillsborough County, Florida Sheriff's deputy's home and attempted to burn him alive on the Fourth of July.

Officials say that 51-year-old Melinda Jones-Lyn parked her vehicle on the deputy's lawn and threw a glass bottle full of fire accelerant through the window of his home, according to WFLA-TV.

Jones-Lyn then set the unidentified deputy's unmarked patrol vehicle on fire before she tied a rag to a rod, lit it on fire and threw the flaming rag through the shattered window of the home.

She then threw a second glass bottle filled with fire accelerant at the home's front.

When the deputy exited the home to confront the woman, he was hit with fire accelerant.

The deputy tackled Jones-Lyn to the ground, but the woman was holding a lighter and tried to set him on fire.

Deputies say Jones-Lyn told the deputy: "I'm going to kill you. I'm going to burn you."

A spokeswoman for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office told the news station that the woman is a relative of the deputy.

Jones-Lyn was taken into custody and charged with attempted murder in the first degree, arson in the first degree dwelling with people present, second-degree arson and throwing a deadly missile into dwelling or aircraft.

She is being held at the Hillsborough County Jail without bond.

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