The Habersham County man Jeffrey Jones accused of setting fire to home with his family inside

HABERSHAM COUNTY, Ga. – A man has been arrested after allegedly setting fire to a residence while his family was still inside, according to the Habersham County Sheriff's Office.

Police said Jeffrey Jones was arrested in White County in connection with the incident on Saturday.

Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell said that the incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, and deputies responded to a structure fire call in the Mt. Zion road area and determined that Jones set the fire after an argument with his wife. 

"We also believe he had been drinking," Terrell said. 

Jones first set the couple's bedroom closet on fire, Terrell said. His wife noticed the fire and got the couple's children out of the house. Jones then, according to police, set the front of the house on fire and then fled the scene in a 2012 blue Ford Focus.

Jones was considered armed and dangerous and was believed to be in possession of two guns.

"He had pulled a weapon on police in the past," Terrell said, "and we were considering him armed and dangerous."

Police were able to locate the car using the vehicle's GPS tracking system. 

Officials were uncertain as to how much of the house was damaged in the fire.