The man investigators believe set fire to a Lawrenceville woman’s home early Sunday had tried to burn it down before, the victim told police.
Gwinnett County fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said Monday that warrants had been issued charging 65-year-old Clifford David Malone with arson in connection with the fire that caused “major” damage to a home on Lawrenceville’s Amelia Garden Way. As of Monday afternoon, Malone had not been arrested.
Citing an active investigation, Rutledge declined to provide specifics about the fire or a possible motive — but Gwinnett County police incident reports offered more insight into the case.
In one report, the victim told police she had worked for Malone but they had a “falling out” when she demanded payment. On the evening before the fire, she came home to find a broken window and her 32-inch TV stolen.
She immediately assumed Malone was to blame, police said.
“The victim stated the suspect has threatened her in the past,” the incident report said. “… The victim stated the suspect tried to burn her house down a few months prior to this incident.”
About four hours later, police were called again to the victim’s home after a neighbor reported a suspicious person. The victim also called to report seeing Malone walking “from the area of her home” before speeding off in an SUV, an incident report said.
Responding officers found the house ablaze. No one was injured during the fire, and crews were able to rescue the victim’s dog from the home.
Rutledge said fire investigators spoke with Malone during a traffic stop shortly after the fire, but he was not detained at the time. Anyway with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or contact the fire department at 678-518-4890.
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