Teens Charged with Setting North Carolina Church Fire

Aug. 3, 2009

SURRY COUNTY, N.C. --

Two Mount Airy teenagers were arrested and charged in connection with setting a blaze last weekend at the Closer Walk Baptist Church.

Christopher Blake Harrell, 17, and Ryan Rakeem Belton, 18, were arrested on Friday.

They have been charged with one count of breaking and entering a place of worship and one count of burning a church or religious building.

Police said the two broke into the church on Roberts Road at about 2:30 a.m. last Sunday and set a fire in a restroom. The fire caused $175,000 in damage.

Police said a woman, Tammy Belton Tinsley, who lives with Belton, was charged with contributing to the delinquency of minors.

Police said more arrested were expected.

Belton and Harrell were being held on a $25,000 bond each.

Copyright 2009 by WXII12.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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