A Knoxville man has been taken into custody and is facing a charge of arson in connection with a fire in Hancock County. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office collaborated in the investigation, which led to the arrest of 41-year-old Christopher Shearer.
The TBI announced the arrest, detailing that Shearer allegedly set the blaze intentionally at a residence on Sherm Mountain Road in Sneedville earlier in the year. The fire investigation itself dates back to February when authorities were called to the scene in the 800 block of Sherm Mountain Road. It was later determined to have been deliberately set, leading agents to identify Shearer as the main suspect. According to a report by WVLT, officers carried out the arrest in Maryville on Friday.
The U.S. Marshals Service was involved in locating and apprehending Shearer. He has since been charged with one count of arson and is currently being held at the Hancock County Jail. His bond is set at $15,000. This information was further corroborated by a release from the TBI stating, "The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law," as covered by WATE.
While details surrounding the motive for the arson are still undisclosed, the findings from the joint inquiry paint a grim picture of the events leading up to the arrest. Also, WBIR corroborates the TBI's statement on the arrest made in Maryville, emphasizing due process and the presumption of innocence for Shearer. The follow-through of the judicial process is awaited to conclude the narrative of this charge of arson fully.
