Chattanooga fire investigators have been searching for a possible suspect following a fire of suspicious origin on Saturday.
Captain Anthony Moore with the Fire Investigation Division said the suspect, 20-year-old Terry Slaughter, was spotted driving on a city street Wednesday afternoon and apprehended.
Captain Moore said that on Saturday, Mr. Slaughter started a fire in the back bedroom of a duplex located at 1422 Bradt Street and then left. Chattanooga firefighters arrived moments later and put the fire out. No one was injured. The loss was estimated at around $39,000.
As for the motive, Captain Moore said Mr. Slaughter was mad at his landlord after being evicted from the duplex. The charge was upgraded to aggravated arson because the fire endangered the life of the resident living on the other side of the duplex.
Captain Moore was assisted with the arrest by Lt. Henry McElvain and Lt. Andrew Waters, both fire investigators, and the Chattanooga Police Department.