Teen accused of setting mother’s Fort Myers home on fire following argument

Reporter: Dannielle Garcia
Published: Updated:
A teen was arrested for arson in Fort Myers on Tuesday. (CREDIT: WINK News)

A man who has a long history with law enforcement is accused of setting fire to his home with his mother inside.

The incident happened in the 2300 block of Jaylen Watkins Street, formerly known as Dupree Street, in Fort Myers on Tuesday.

The Fort Myers Police Department arrested Keshawn Jones, 18, for the crime.

Jones is accused of using a lighter to set his mom’s mattress on fire. She wasn’t in the room at the time, but the two got into an argument.

Police said that’s when Jones, who has a history of mental health issues, set fire to the mattress. Jones is also well-known to the police.

“I didn’t see no fire yet I just seen smoke then when they came,” said Hezekiah Reed, who lives near the home. “They went in and knocked the back door off and the smoke really rushed out the house.”

“I was just hoping that nobody was in there that got burned,” Reed added.

The initial calls to police said a woman was inside the home, but she escaped.

Jones had his first appearance in court on Wednesday morning.

“Finding out what happened, it’s kind of scary knowing that I’m living right next to that,” said another neighbor, Michael Hunter. “For him to do that, he really needs help.”

Jones’ mother has tried to get him help in the past.

Records show she tried to take him to SalusCare earlier this year, but he fled from her and police while waving a gun along Colonial Boulevard.

“The police probably needs to monitor him way more regularly,” Hunter said.

Jones remains in Lee County Jail on $80,000 bond.

The house he set on fire is no longer safe. Code Enforcement boarded it up on Wednesday.

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