Arson arrest from fire damage

Law enforcement officers, a fire investigator and a witness combined efforts to identify two suspects accused of starting a fire that destroyed a shed Saturday on Almaville Road, sheriff’s detectives reported.

Suspects Elijah Jennings, 19, of Farmingdale Drive in La Vergne and Karigan Garrett, 18, of Arnold Drive in Smyrna were charged with felony arson by Sheriff’s Detective Josh Anderson. They allegedly tried to burn the house too.

Detective Sgt. DJ Jackson reported the home was rented by Jennings’ parents. Damage to the house and shed were estimated at $5,000.

Almaville Volunteer Fire Department firefighters extinguished the fire.

Investigator Josh Sanders of Rutherford County Fire Rescue told detectives the fire appeared to be intentionally set near the front of a shed.

At the scene of the fire, Deputy Anthony Bragg reported a witness noticed a white Chevrolet Tahoe sitting in the driveway near the Almaville Road house and saw smoke coming from behind the house about noon Saturday.

The witness quickly took a photograph of the Tahoe and shared the photo with the sheriff’s office. Dispatchers sent the photo and information to neighboring law enforcement agencies.

La Verge Police Officer Billy Duenez spotted the Tahoe on Farmingdale Drive in La Vergne and notified the Sheriff’s Office.

Detective Anderson and Detective Derrick McCullough responded and talked with Jennings and Garrett before charging them with arson.

The suspects were being held on $25,000 bond at Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. A hearing is set Sept. 17 in General Sessions Court.

Rutherford County Fire Rescue asks you to remember, you can report arson or suspected arson by calling RCFR at 615-867-4626 or the TN Arson Hotline at 1-800-762-3017.