Brownstown woman arrested for arson

BROWNSTOWN — A Jackson County woman accused of setting a fire to her half of a duplex less than a day after she had been evicted was arrested on an arson charge Tuesday.

Bonnie Sue Davidson, 52, was booked into the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown on a Level 5 felony charge at 12:39 p.m. Tuesday. She is being held without bond pending her initial court appearance in Jackson Circuit Court.

The fire was reported at 10:02 a.m. at the duplex at 107 N. High St. The duplex is owned by John and Melissa Sears of Bedford, according to property tax records.

Brownstown Fire Chief Travis McElfresh said firefighters responding to the fire less than a block away from the fire station found the duplex fully involved with flames coming out both sides.

The north unit of the duplex, where Davidson lived, was fully destroyed, but firefighters were able to save the south unit, McElfresh said.

According to Jackson Superior Court I records, Davidson was evicted from that residence during a hearing Monday afternoon. She also was ordered to pay back rent and utility bills.

Brownstown Police Chief Tom Hanner said town officers responded to the duplex “within seconds” of it being reported to dispatch. He said no one was hurt in the fire and no one was in either home when police and first responders arrived.

Davidson was outside the home and was taken into custody by Brownstown Officer Natalie Boling.

Officers with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Fire Marshal Office also assisted with the arrest of Davidson and the investigation.

A Level 5 felony is punishable by one to six years in prison with an advisory sentence of three years and a fine of up to $10,000.