Arson investigation: El Mirage Police arrest man in connection with domestic violence incident

Police say domestic violence incident escalated to arson

A Valley man is accused of threatening to shoot his wife and then setting fire to her house on fire with their three children inside.

EL MIRAGE, Ariz. - Officials with the El Mirage Police Department say they have arrested a man in connection with a domestic violence incident that allegedly escalated to arson.

According to a spokesperson with El Mirage Police, 30-year-old Jajuann Ernest Robert Jones has been booked into Maricopa County Jail, and is accused of committing multiple offenses, including attempted first degree murder, arson of occupied structure, and reckless endangerment.

Investigators allege Jones is connected with various incidents, the first of which happened on March 14, when El Mirage Police officers responded to an aggravated assault call at a home near Grand Avenue and Acoma Drive. Officers later learned that the suspect, since identified as Jones, pointed a gun at a woman, identified as Jones' estranged wife, in front of her kids in this particular incident, and fled.

On the night of March 28, officers were called back to the house due to harassing calls Jones allegedly made to the victim. The calls included threats on the woman's life, and threats of physical harm. Hours later, during the early morning hours of March 29, crews responded to a fire call at the house. The fire, which was extinguished by neighbors, involved the home's front door, as well as a garage door. Officers who responded to the fire smelled a strong odor of gasoline, according to a statement released by police.

El Mirage man accused of setting fire at estranged wife's home

El Mirage Police officials say they arrested the suspect in Scottsdale, and he is accused of committing a number of criminal offenses, including attempted murder, in connection with a number of domestic violence incidents that targeted his estranged wife.

Police say domestic violence incident escalated to arson

The couple is married, and the wife has a restraining order, but according to police, that didn't stop her husband from making several dangerous house calls, finally landing him in jail.

Early in the morning March 29, security video shows what police believe is Jajuann Jones, pouring a flammable liquid around his wife's front door and lighting it on fire.

A neighbor helped put out the fire with a garden hose. She asked us to hide her identity.

"I just saw a red and I started screaming, got my kids out and take them to the living room and got my husband."

In court, Jones didn't say much to a judge. He is facing a laundry list of charges, including attempted first-degree murder, endangerment, and arson.

Off camera, his wife urged the judge to keep him behind bars.

"He has the means to flee the state and somebody helping him, so just for our safety."

Court paperwork shows days before the fire, Jones allegedly pulled a gun on his wife and threatened to kill her while their kids were watching.

She also told police he called 25 times in one day, threatening to shoot her and blow up the house.

"Our victim services unit is working with the victim. But obviously, it's a terrible situation for anybody to be in," said Lt. Jimmy Chavez of the El Mirage Police Department.

No one was shot and no one was hurt in the fire.

The house now bares the black scars left by the fire.

Nervous neighbors are hoping the fireworks next door are finally finished.

"Yes, definitely, I mean, they're children, I can't even imagine what they're going through.. three kids.. I have little ones so that's a little bit hard."

Police had several conversations with Jones, asking that he turn himself in. Jones reportedly told them "you'll have to catch me first," and that's exactly what they did on March 31.

Jones was arrested at a hotel in Scottsdale. His bond was set at $1 million.

You can donate to the family's GoFundMe here.