NEWPORT COUPLE INDICTED IN COCKE COUNTY ARSON INVESTIGATION
NEWPORT COUPLE INDICTED IN COCKE COUNTY ARSON INVESTIGATION
COCKE COUNTY – A joint investigation has led to the indictment of a Newport couple on attempted arson charges.
In January 2017, at the request of 4th District Attorney General James Dunn, TBI Special Agents joined Tennessee Fire Investigative Services, the Newport Police Department, and the Newport Fire Department in investigating an attempted arson that occurred at Brandywine Creek Restaurant located along West Highway 25/70 in Newport. During the course of the investigation, authorities determined that Gary Ridens (DOB 03/08/57) and Geraldine Ridens (DOB 11/19/56), the owners of the restaurant, were the individuals responsible for attempting to start the fire.
This week, the Cocke County Grand Jury returned indictments charging both Gary and Geraldine Ridens with one count of Attempted Arson and one count of Reckless Endangerment. Today, both were arrested and booked into the Cocke County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
