Jon Hembree
Jon Hembree, 32, of Bradley County, has been arrested on an arson charge in relation to a church fire that happened in Polk County on Aug. 15.
A joint investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and several other agencies resulted in the indictment and arrest.
At the request of 10th District Attorney General Stephen Crump, on Aug.
16, TBI special agents joined the Benton Police Department, 10
th District DA’s Office, and Tennessee Fire Investigation Services in investigating a structure fire that occurred during the early morning hours of Aug. 15. The building that burned was the Mercy Tabernacle Church on Clemmer Ferry Road in Benton. During the course of the investigation, agents developed information that identified Hembree as the person responsible for setting the fire.
On Nov. 5, the Polk County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Hembree with one count of arson. Hembree was arrested Monday after turning himself in. He was booked into the Polk County Jail on a $15,000 bond.