Man arrested on arson and attempted murder charges

By Staff
Melissa Cason
RED BAY- A man believed to be responsible for a weekend fire in Belgreen was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with attempted murder.
Courtney Ray Strickland, of 100 Triplett Drive in Red Bay, was arrested yesterday afternoon and charged with first-degree arson and attempted murder for allegedly setting fire to a Belgreen home near the high school Sunday morning.
A couple passing by the residence stopped and woke a man sleeping inside.
David Borden, a 28 year-old man living at the home, was able to escape the home shortly before the house became engulfed in flames.
Officials believe the fire started shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday.
The Franklin County Special Response Team was deployed Thursday afternoon when investigators believed Strickland was inside a home and refused to surrender.
"We called the SRT team just as a precaution," Sheriff Larry Plott said.
"Strickland was found walking down the road before they got here."
The SRT team is a multi-jursidiction team trained to deal with high risk situations.
Plott said Strickland was taken to the Franklin County Dention Center where he is awaiting a bond hearing.