A Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police officer arrested a mother and son this afternoon who were wanted for arson and insurance fraud in Guyton.
The officer recognized 36-year-old Tamika Smith, and her son, 18-year-old Jamarcus Smith, from a news release issued by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office today.
The pair, from Savannah, were wanted for arson in the first degree, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and criminal damage to property.
On Sept. 1, deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash at Atlantic Avenue in Guyton.
Jamarcus Smith was driving a 2006 Chrysler 300 and his mother, Tamika Smith, was a passenger. The pair gave conflicting stories about what led up to the crash.
It was later determined that the owner of the car, 51-year-old Ruth Jaudon of Guyton, conspired with the Smiths to total the car for insurance purposes.
Investigators discovered that Tamika Smith crashed the car into a tree and then Jamarcus Smith crashed it into another tree. The car caught fire in the second crash.
Jaudon was arrested and charged last month with conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and arson.