Claypool Woman Charged With Arson After Monday’s Car Fire, Gun Incident
Claypool Woman Charged With Arson After Monday’s Car Fire, Gun Incident
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Jackie Gorski-jgorski@timesuniononline.com
Claypool Woman Charged With Arson After Monday’s Car Fire, Gun IncidentA Claypool woman was arrested after allegedly setting a car on fire, having drugs in her possession and a three-hour standoff with police.
Jodi C. Carter, 44, of 3267 W. Hill Lake Road, Claypool, is charged with arson, a Level 4 felony; and possession of methamphetamine with enhancing circumstances, a Level 5 felony.
She was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 2:06 p.m. Monday on a $5,250 preliminary bond.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Monday, first responders, including fire and law enforcement officers, were dispatched to a vehicle fire. Upon arrival, officers located a 2006 Ford Escape engulfed in flames.
When a Claypool Police Department officer arrived on scene, he saw the car on fire and three gas cans sitting in front of the vehicle outside the open garage. The officer couldn’t see in the vehicle and broke the driver’s side and rear windows to make sure no one was in the vehicle. The officer said the gas cap to the vehicle was open, the fire was localized to the area and there was a spent shotgun shell under the vehicle.
The officer tried to contact the owner of the residence by knocking on the front and inside garage doors.
A Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputy arrived on scene and noticed a separate fire burning appliances and aerosol cans about 25 feet away in the front of the vehicle in the yard. Officers also located a generator in the yard with drag marks on the ground, according to the affidavit.
The deputy also knocked on the residence’s door, but no one answered. The Claypool officer noticed a window open that was closed when he arrived. Dispatch said prior to the officers’ arrival, they received a 911 hangup from the residence but no one spoke.
The officer then walked to the backyard and allegedly saw a woman, later identified as Carter, in a fenced-in area with several dogs. The officer was familiar with Carter from prior incidents and was aware she had a previous history of drug use, as well as having mental health issues, according to court documents.
Officers approached the fenced-in area and allegedly saw Carter with a shotgun. Carter yelled to the officers, telling them they were trespassing. Officers tried to talk with Carter and asked her to put the gun down, but she repeatedly refused to put the gun down and talk with law enforcement.
Other deputies arrived on scene to speak with Carter, who said she didn’t believe they were law enforcement officers and refused to put her gun down.
Officers contacted relatives of Carter, requesting they come to the scene. One of the relatives told officers Carter threatened to burn and blow up the vehicle two weeks ago.
The second relative said the vehicle belonged to her and she was having mechanical issues with it, so the owners of the residence allowed her to park the vehicle at the residence a couple weeks ago. The second relative said Carter drove the vehicle the following day without permission, leading to a disagreement between Carter and the relative. The second relative said she went to the residence the day before to get the keys to the vehicle from Carter, but was not able to locate them and Carter wouldn’t tell her where the keys were. At that time, the second relative said the vehicle was locked.
The second relative said there were household items in the car that weren’t in there the day before.
The Kosciusko County SWAT Team arrived on scene to assist and after a three-hour standoff, they took Carter into custody.
Carter was searched and a clear plastic bag was allegedly found containing white-crystal-like substance that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Officers also allegedly found a shotgun shell that matched the shotgun shell under the vehicle. A cigarette lighter was found on Carter.
Carter was the only person at the residence at the time of the incident. She also allegedly admitted to making the 911 hangup call. She also said she previously threatened to break out the windows of the vehicle, according to court documents.
