In a Fiery Relationship, Rison’s Girlfriend Surrenders

Hip-hop performer Lisa (Left Eye) Lopes surrendered to police Friday on charges that she set fire to the two-story mansion belonging to her boyfriend, Atlanta Falcon receiver Andre Rison, and smashed his cars.

Lopes, 22, a singer with the group TLC, is accused of felony arson and criminal damage to property. The house was destroyed in the Thursday blaze.

Court officials said Lopes waived her right to a hearing in Fulton County magistrate’s court that had been scheduled for Monday. It was unclear when the singer, whose nickname comes from her habit of replacing one lens of her glasses with a condom during performances, would appear in court.

Magistrate Vickie Moran set bond at $500,000 on the arson charge and $10,000 on a criminal damage charge. Lopes also is accused of smashing Rison’s cars. The bond was later reduced to $82,000, which Lopes posted.

Police also said they would charge Lopes with a misdemeanor drug charge because of marijuana found in the burned-out home.

Police said an enraged Lopes set fire to cardboard in a whirlpool tub at the mansion around 6:30 a.m. Thursday after Rison and a group of friends returned from being out all night.

Rison said Lopes had been hitting him on the head that morning and he slapped her to get her to stop.

“That’s when I went for a walk, before it went any further,” he told WAGA-TV. “She’s a beautiful person. . . . But I think there’s something wrong with her mental state.

“I’m in her corner. I’m going to go to bat for her.”

Rison has had previous troubles with Lopes. Last September, he was arrested in a grocery parking lot after allegedly hitting Lopes and firing a handgun. The charges were later dismissed.