Home engulfed in flames during narcotics investigation in Burke County
BURKE COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) – A mobile home in Burke County was set ablaze during the execution of a search warrant by the Burke County Sherriff’s Office.
Investigators attempted to serve a warrant Thursday at a trailer near East 7th street, as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation. Deputies say when they arrived the suspect, 42-year-old Arrie Williams, barricaded himself in the residence.
“They saw the target go in the house. When he shut the door…when they knocked and announced themselves, they had a search warrant, he barricaded himself and wouldn’t come out. They used a distraction device that they tossed in the window,” said Captain Jimmy Wylds.
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Captain Wylds says after tossing the device inside, the mobile home went up flames. Willams and another person were inside at the time. The Burke County Special Response Unit worked to get them out safely.
“When it started smoking, he thought it was a tear gas grenade, so he threw a towel over it and it has about a three second flam so he tried to smother it with the towel and it caught the trailer on fire.”
He says the trailer was considered a total loss and the Waynesboro Fire Department is still investigating fire.
Williams will face more charges.
“They got him into custody and brought him and a female out. He’s been since committed to the jail on Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon charges and we expect more charges to come in the future.”
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