A man held at the Tift County Jail on charges of aggravated stalking, battery (family violence) and third-degree cruelty to children now faces arson charges stemming from a Sunday evening fire at a South College Avenue home. It is unknown if the incidents are related.

Deputies arrived in the area of Fletcher and Ferry Lake roads at 12:30 p.m. Sunday to reports that a woman had been assaulted. When they arrived, they learned that the woman had been slapped by a man. The hit split her lip and caused her to fall to the ground. As the woman was being assaulted, the stroller carrying her 1-year-old daughter tipped over and caused the child to fall to the ground also.

The woman had a 12-month protective order against Gregory Lamar Adams, 43, of 709 S. College Ave., the man charged with her assault. He had fled the scene when the deputies arrived and a warrant was taken out for his arrest.

Later Sunday, a Tifton police officer responded to a call reporting a fire at the residence at 709 S. College Ave. When he arrived, he saw smoke and flames coming from a window on the south side of the house. Firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire they believe began in a bedroom of the home. The fire was contained to the bedroom area, but the home was heavily damaged by smoke and heat.

Officers talked with two witnesses who reported that they were on their way to a nearby laundrymat when they saw a black male they identified as Gregory Adams leaving the south side of the residence. They also saw another man stop Adams in the middle of the road and tell him to stay away from the residence and from the family that lives there. The police officer noted in his report that he had told Adams on Saturday to stay away from the residence in the presence of another woman, who lives at the house.

Deputies spotted Adams a short distance from the home and arrested him on the warrants issued for the earlier Sunday altercation. According to a spokesman in Fire and Safety Commissioner John Oxendine’s office, investigators have determined the fire was intentionally set and first-degree arson charges will be filed against Adams.

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.