Arson complaint investigated

A 34-year-old Milton woman was arrested after her husband alleged she attempted to burn his boat, go-kart and Jacuzzi after an altercation.

Shannon Wriska was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with a first-degree battery charge and arson, a second-degree felony.

At 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon, Santa Rosa County deputies were dispatched to Fleetwood Drive in Milton in reference to an arson complaint.

When deputies arrived, they noticed a boat that was parked in front of a trailer had been partially burned and that the flames that looked to have been from the fire had reached the side of the trailer.

When they arrived at the scene, they were met by Robert Wriska who stated that his wife, Shannon had burned his boat and his go-kart that was parked next to his trailer according to the report.

The police report stated Robert said he had been in an altercation with his wife the night before and that they watched a movie that starred the actress Jennifer Lopez.

Robert stated his wife was very jealous of the actress and did not like him seeing her in the movie. Robert said an argument ensued over the actress and both went to bed.

The report stated that Robert stated that while both he and his wife were in the bed, Shannon started to argue and later left the house.

The next day, Robert said he was at another residence drinking alcohol and his wife pulled up in her vehicle and saw him drinking and became agitated the report indicated. 

Robert stated that Shannon then walked outside of their trailer and started pulling hoses off of the motor of his go-kart.   Then Robert told deputies that she lit the go-kart on fire, and he ran outside and attempted to extinguish the fire with water from a hose.

He then stated he saw Shannon drive away in her vehicle with his dogs stating she was going to “put them to sleep” the report stated.

Robert originally told officers that a physical fight did not ensue, but later told police that his wife grabbed him by the neck and smacked and scratched him on the side of his face.

When police spoke to a witness that was with Robert when he was drinking Thursday, the witness stated that she observed Shannon pulling the wires off of the go-kart and that when she saw Shannon walk away from the go-kart, she saw flames ignite. 

The witness stated that they observed Robert put the fire out with a hose and then saw Shannon punch Robert.

The witness stated to officers that after Robert went back inside his neighbor’s house, someone came in the house and said that Shannon was lighting Robert’s boat on fire and that she was attempting to light a Jacuzzi on fire by pouring gasoline inside of it. 

When officers spoke to another witness they stated they saw Shannon light the go-kart on fire and saw the physical altercation between the Wriska’s. According to the report, the witness said Robert did not fight back during the physical fight.

The witness also told police she saw Shannon pouring gasoline onto the boat, but could not verify whether Shannon lit it on fire.

Shannon was later arrested and interviewed at the jail where she stated both her and her husband had been fighting throughout Wednesday night and into Thursday.  Shannon said Robert called her several times on Thursday verbally “harassing” her according to the report

She then stated she came home from work on Thursday and saw Robert drinking a beer and then walked outside and pulled a wire off of his go-kart.  She told police that this aggravated Robert and that he pulled her out of her truck as she attempted to leave the residence.

She stated that as Shannon was leaving, Robert took a gas can from the back of the go-kart and poured it on the go-kart and lit it on fire.

The report indicated Shannon never admitted to lighting anything on fire.

The case is still under investigation by the state Fire Marshals.

Wriska remains in Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.