Crawford County Man Charged After Alleged Vehicle Arson, Domestic Assault

A Crawford County man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly assaulting a pregnant woman and setting her car on fire during a domestic disturbance earlier this week.

Drayton Shaw, of Cuba, has been charged with knowingly burning or exploding, first-degree property damage, and third-degree domestic assault, following a June 24 incident involving his girlfriend, a 19-year-old woman who is pregnant and described Shaw as the father of her unborn child.

According to the probable cause statement, officers were dispatched to a residence in Cuba for a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, police spoke with the victim, who said Shaw had become “extremely intoxicated” and accused her of being unfaithful. The confrontation escalated into physical violence.

Shaw allegedly attempted to rip the victim’s shirt off, yanked a lanyard from around her neck—causing pain and a scratch to her forehead—and then left the residence. A 17-year-old witness confirmed observing Shaw assault the woman.

Before leaving the property, Shaw reportedly asked the victim to unlock her vehicle so he could retrieve some of his belongings. The victim complied, and Shaw departed.

Roughly 10 minutes later, Shaw called the victim and told her to “check on her car.” When she did, she discovered it engulfed in flames. The victim and a friend managed to extinguish the fire using water before police arrived.

Responding officers observed severe fire damage to the rear seat cushions, headliner, electrical wiring, and melted material on the front passenger seat. A clothes hamper containing some of Shaw’s belongings had also been burned. Additionally, the victim reported her Apple iPad—valued at $1,200—was destroyed, which she said would result in lost income as she used the device for work. The vehicle, purchased for $8,500, sustained damage significant enough to render it inoperable until extensive repairs are made.

During the altercation, Shaw allegedly told the victim that “her life was about to get worse,” a statement investigators considered threatening in nature.