An all-day argument at an Ohio residence ended in gunfire, a targeted fire, and the arrest of a local woman who allegedly told authorities she was just trying “to prove a point.”
The incident unfolded on Monday afternoon in Wayne Township, a community situated between Cincinnati and Dayton. Emergency dispatchers received a 911 call at approximately 4:15 p.m. from a residence located in the 5900 block of Newtonsville Road.
The caller reported that an ongoing, daylong argument had escalated to violence, claiming that a woman inside the home had fired a gun.
Deputies from the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the property about 15 minutes later. Upon entering the home, responding officers discovered that the curtains inside the residence had been set on fire. The flames had already been put out by the time law enforcement arrived, and no injuries were reported among the occupants.
As deputies interviewed individuals at the scene, witnesses stated that 47-year-old Crystal Foster had “intentionally set the home’s curtains on fire” during the dispute. According to the sheriff’s office press release, witnesses also told investigators that Foster openly declared she was “going to burn this place down.” Additionally, those inside the home recalled hearing a loud “pop” sound originating from one of the bedrooms.
When questioned by law enforcement, Foster reportedly admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages over the course of the day. She told deputies she fired the handgun to “show them she was serious and to make a point.”
However, when asked about the fire, she “indicated she wasn’t sure why she lit the curtains on fire.” The exact relationship between Foster and the witnesses present in the home has not been released by officials.
Foster was arrested at the scene and transported to the Clermont County Jail, where she is currently being held without bail. The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office announced that Foster has been formally charged with first-degree aggravated arson, which is a felony.
She also faces misdemeanor charges, including two counts of first-degree aggravated menacing and one count of first-degree using weapons while intoxicated. Foster was scheduled for her initial arraignment on Tuesday morning.
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