Henry, Tenn.–A Paris man was arrested on arson charges after two boats were set ablaze in the Henry area Sunday evening.
Brian England, age 51, of 810 Gwen St., was arrested by Henry County Sheriff’s Deputies.
On Sunday, March 10, at approximately 8:40 P.M., Henry County Sheriff Patrol Units were dispatched to 1040 Hinchey Cemetery Rd., in reference to two boats that were on fire. Surrounding woods were starting to catch fire, according to the sheriff’s report. Sgt. Wayne Fuqua was the first deputy to arrive on scene followed by Cpl. Steve Dean Jr.
Sgt. Fuqua advised that when he arrived on scene, he was told by a subject who was at the residence that Brian England was at the residence earlier and attempted to start a fire in the driveway before being made to leave and it was believed that England started the fire causing damage to the boats.
Sgt. Fuqua and Cpl. Dean followed footprints near the area of the fire down a logging trail that led further into the woods but lost track of the footprints.
Witnesses at the nearby house told deputies that England was at the residence visiting earlier and began acting irate and was told to leave. One of the witnesses sustained minor burns to their arms when they tried to put out the fire. Another witness said they saw England start a fire in the driveway and that a short while after he walked down the logging road, the boats started on fire.
A short while after clearing the scene, 911 dispatch advised that a volunteer Henry Fire Department firefighter observed a male subject wearing a black hoodie was walking on Hinchey Cemetery Rd.
Deputy Lowell Boyd and Sgt. Fuqua were able to make contact with the subject who was positively identified as Brian England. During this encounter, England made the spontaneous utterance several times that he burned his father’s boats and that he was going to turn himself in. England was placed under arrest and transported to the Henry County Correctional Facility without incident.
Meanwhile, the Henry Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to 1040 Hinchey Cemetery Rd. at 8:43 p.m. and found two fiberglass boats on fire. Their team extinguished the blaze and cleared the scene.
Henry VFD photo of the fire.
