Staff report

HAWTHORNE, Fla. – Ciera Lynne Watson, 36, was arrested last night after allegedly breaking a window at a Hawthorne home and threatening to burn the house down.

At about 9:37 p.m. on August 13, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a home in Hawthorne, where the victim said Watson had broken a window and was threatening to burn down her house; the victim said Watson, who is homeless, is an adopted cousin who has never lived at her home.

A deputy wrote that as he approached, he heard Watson threaten to kill the victim and saw Watson throw a shoe that hit the victim. Deputies tried to detain Watson, but she allegedly pulled away and spat on the victim.

The deputy reported that the victim’s mailbox was also broken, and repairs to the window and mailbox were estimated at over $600.

The deputy noted that Watson had a backpack that she could have chosen to leave at the victim’s house, but since she reportedly insisted that it had to come with her, it was searched so the contents could be inventoried. The search reportedly produced about 0.43 grams of marijuana and about 0.4 grams of cocaine; the bag also contained multiple items with Watson’s name on them. Watson also reportedly had a small torch.

Post Miranda, Watson reportedly requested a lawyer but spontaneously stated that she had intended to hit the victim with a shoe, that she was going to “slit” someone’s throat, and that she would burn down the victim’s home when she was released.

Watson has been charged with two counts of abuse of a disabled person, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, two counts of property damage over $200, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, and resisting an officer without violence. She has no criminal convictions, and Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $220,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.