Mason City man accused of beating woman in Rudd, setting house on fire

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Mason City man has been charged with severely beating his girlfriend and setting fire to their home in an incident alleged to have happened in Rudd last weekend.

Tyrone Earl Jones, age 33, was charged with first-degree arson, a Class B felony; domestic abuse assault impeding air or blood flow causing bodily injury, a Class D felony; third-degree theft, an aggravated misdemeanor; and false imprisonment, a serious misdemeanor.

According to documents filed Monday in Floyd County District Court, Jones is accused of starting a fire in the upstairs of a home in Rudd on Saturday, Jan. 8, at about 1 p.m.

“Defendant has made threats and previously started a fire in the bedroom closet,” a criminal complaint filed by a Floyd County sheriff’s deputy states.

“Defendant made statement this date to start a fire and that victim would lose everything,” the complaint said. “Defendant left the residence and informed a neighbor the house was on fire and called 911 himself to report the fire. Defendant made statement that he knew fire was upstairs prior to leaving the scene and left before police and fire arrived. Defendant knew dog was left inside.”

Another criminal complaint alleges that Jones “assaulted his girlfriend who he resides with and has had relations with by kicking her in the face, back and back of the head.”

“The defendant grabbed the victim’s neck, strangling her to the point she lost consciousness. The victim reported a bloodshot eye, lumps on the back of her head and pain with several bruises. The victim was afraid for safety. The defendant also burnt her with a cigarette. The defendant started the victim’s house on fire and left the scene before law enforcement arrived,” the domestic assault complaint states.

Jones is also accused of stealing two cellphones valued between $750 and $1,500.

“Defendant and victim have had previous domestic assaults,” the theft complaint alleges. “Each time the defendant takes her phone so she cannot communicate with others. On this date, defendant after committing domestic abuse and arson, took her phone and a new phone and left the scene prior to law enforcement arriving.”

The false imprisonment complaint alleges an event that happened “several weeks ago.”

“Defendant has caused verbal and physical abuse to victim over last year,” the court document states. “ A couple of weeks ago, defendant tied the victim up by hands and feet to her bed upstairs using twine type rope. Defendant was fearful but remained calm in order to prevent further abuse. Defendant has also taken her phones and prohibited her to communicate with others during previous assaults and the assault this date.”

A report released Wednesday by the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office says the Sheriff’s Office responded to a house fire in the 100 block of Hampton Street in Rudd at about 1 p.m. last Saturday.

“Upon investigation, it was determined that an assault had occurred and the fire was intentionally started,” the statement said. “The suspect fled the scene prior to law enforcement and fire arrival.”

The Sheriff’s Office said the alleged victim was near the house when the fire started and went back in to retrieve a dog.

“The victim was transported to MercyOne in Mason City with minor injuries,” it said.

Fire departments were on the scene for five hours and returned later that night when the fire rekindled, the report said. The house is considered a total loss.

Jones is being held in the Floyd County Jail under $33,000 cash bond set by Floyd County Magistrate Katherine Evans, who also approved a no-contact order between Jones and the alleged victim.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 19, although typically the County Attorney’s Office will file a written trial information formally listing the charges, and the next court event would then be an arraignment where the accused will enter a plea.

In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, responding to the fire were Rudd Fire, Nora Springs Fire, Floyd Fire, Colwell Fire, Rockford Fire, Marble Rock Fire, Charles City Fire, Osage Fire, Floyd County Search & Rescue, Nora Springs Ambulance, AMR Ambulance, Alliant Energy and the Iowa state fire marshal, the Sheriff’s Office reported.