‘Angry’ suspect sets mailbox on fire in Martinez

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after someone set fire to a mailbox in Martinez Sunday night.

A 24-year-old woman told officers she was sitting in her living room when she heard persistent honking outside her home, an incident report said.

She went outside and saw a blue SUV with a mailbox on fire next to it, the report said. She called 911 and the SUV fled toward South Old Belair Road.

When officers arrived, firefighters were working to extinguish the fire, the report said. Officers spoke to a neighbor who said he knew who had started the fire.

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The neighbor, who rents, said he knew the suspect through his friend who was staying at the home, the report said. He told officers the suspect was “angry” with the friend and that the couple had “previous relationships.”

According to the report, the same suspect had set fire to trash next to the mailbox earlier that day.

However, he would not provide the friend’s name, officers noted in the report. He did provide a description of the vehicle that matched the 24-year-old woman’s description.

According to the report, officers were unable to contact the property owner.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Suspect sets mailbox on fire in Martinez