WOODLAND – A 20-year-old Woodland woman is behind bars after threatening to set fire to an occupied residence here Tuesday.

Tamona Shana Joyner stands charged with attempted first degree arson. She was jailed under a $51,000 bond and made her first court appearance on Thursday.

The Northampton County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a disturbance on Indian Trial, Woodland, around 11 a.m. on Tuesday. The callers reported that a female subject was at the residence pouring gas and threatening to set fire to the dwelling.

Woodland Police Officer Clarice Hagborne was the closest law enforcement official to that area and she responded to assist the Sheriff’s Office.

According to Northampton Sheriff’s Captain Chuck Hasty, when Hagborne arrived on Indian Trial she witnessed Joyner with a gas can in her hand. At that time, Joyner dropped the can and attempted flee the scene, but was detained by Hagborne until NCSO Sgt. Jimmy Pair could arrive at the residence.

Upon Pair’s arrival, he began the investigation, initially by speaking with the caller about the incident. Pair learned there was a disagreement between the caller and Joyner, at which time Joyner became upset and started pouring gas on and around the residence while the caller and at least one other person were inside. That information, along with Hagborne’s eyewitness account of seeing Joyner with a gas can in her possession, led Pair to arrest and charge Joyner.

The Woodland Fire Department was summoned to the scene and sprayed the residence down and the ground around the residence to dissipate the gas to prevent a fire.

“When there is a domestic disturbance, tempers can flare and people make the wrong choices on how to handle them,” said Northampton Sheriff Jack Smith. “I want thank Officer Hagborne for responding so quickly to assist us to defuse this incident.  If she had not responded so quickly it could have turned bad very quick.  I would also like to thank the Woodland Fire Department for assisting us in this incident.”