WASHINGTON COUNTY, Md. – A Maryland man is facing arson charges after investigators say he intentionally set fire to his home Saturday night in Washington County.

What we know:

Investigators say 25‑year‑old Austin David Brown of Knoxville has been charged with first‑degree arson, first‑degree malicious burning, malicious destruction of property over $1,000, and animal cruelty.

Shortly before 11:35 p.m., firefighters responded to a house fire on Kaetzel Road and determined the blaze had been intentionally set. Neighbors told investigators the occupant, Brown, was seen walking away from the home shortly after the fire began. Deputy State Fire Marshals later received additional information, including security camera footage from a nearby resident, they say further linked Brown to the fire.

An arrest warrant was issued charging him in connection with the incident.

On Monday, investigators learned Brown had returned to the area and located him on Weverton Road before he ran into the woods. After an approximately 40‑minute search, he surrendered and was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the Washington County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.

The investigation is continuing.

• Two brothers were arrested in Mississippi following a manhunt for the shooting of a Covington County deputy.
• The deputy was shot during a traffic stop that led to a vehicle chase and was last reported in stable condition.
• The arrested brothers are also related to a teenager charged with capital murder in a separate case.

Mississippi authorities said brothers Cortavious Lawayne Hobbs, 18, and Cortavion Dewayne Hobbs, 19, were arrested June 9 without incident, ending a manhunt tied to the shooting of a Covington County deputy.

The shooting occurred between 2:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. on Monday, June 8, in Mount Olive when deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle.

The Covington County Sheriff’s Office said the vehicle failed to stop and fled, leading deputies on a chase down U.S. Highway 49 before arriving on a gravel road near Greer’s CashSaver store.

The sheriff’s office said the vehicle “became stuck,” and the driver exited the vehicle with their hands raised. Investigators said other occupants exited the vehicle and fired shots at deputies on the scene.

A deputy was shot during the interaction with the suspects near the Covington, Smith and Simpson County lines.

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said Yates Rodney was the deputy injured.

Smith County Sheriff Joel Houston said the bullet struck the deputy above his vest and beneath his arm, causing life-threatening injuries. Rodney was transported to Forrest General Hospital, where he was last reported to be in stable condition.

A second deputy provided backup and returned fire during the encounter but was not injured, authorities said.

On Monday evening, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation initially issued Blue Alerts for two suspects identified as Zykerian Magee, 19, and Cortavion.

The Covington County Sheriff’s Office later announced that Magee turned himself in and, after being interviewed by investigators, was determined to have been misidentified.

MBI updated its alert stating Magee was cleared as a suspect. Authorities then notified the public that officers were searching for Cortavion and his younger brother Cortavious.

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The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said Cortavion and Cortavious were apprehended around 1 a.m. Tuesday in the general area of the incident. The brothers were found hiding under a house, the sheriff’s office said.

Covington County Sheriff Darrell Perkins said the two suspects in custody are also the brothers of Cordarius Laray Hobbs, 17.

Cordarius faces charges of capital murder, burglary and aggravated assault in the June 3 deaths of 74-year-old Billy Blair and 71-year-old Virginia Carol Blair, a married couple, during a standoff in Simpson County. Cordarius previously pleaded not guilty to 13 felony charges in the case.

According to investigators, Simpson County deputies were conducting a welfare check at the Blairs’ home when they believe they interrupted a burglary in progress. Authorities said Cordarius shot a deputy and held law enforcement at bay for several hours before he was eventually taken into custody.

What is a Blue Alert?

The Mississippi Blue Alert System is an alert activated when a law enforcement officer is injured, killed or missing in the line of duty and the suspect remains at large.

A Blue Alert is designed to quickly alert the public, media and other agencies so they can help locate and apprehend the suspect before further harm can occur.

A Blue Alert uses multiple communication channels such as TV, radio, mobile phone alerts and highway message boards, to spread suspect descriptions and vehicle details.

The national system, National Blue Alert Network, was created under the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015, named after two New York City police officers who were killed in an ambush attack.

Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.

A new list from WorldAtlas named 13 North Carolina towns writers deemed the best places to live in the state in 2026 ― including two Western North Carolina locations.

Founded in 1994 by cartographer John Moen and his wife, Chris Woolwine-Moen, WorldAtlas publishes educational materials and articles on geography, sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics, and travel.

Previous Citizen Times articles have covered numerous mentions of Western N.C. from WorldAtlas, including the publication’s favorite North Carolina towns for 2026 visits, best day trips in the state, “idyllic” and “unpretentious” towns, scenic drives, towns that rival Europe’s finest and more.

From mountain landscapes to coastal access to quieter suburban neighborhoods, here’s where WorldAtlas writers chose.

Best places to live in North Carolina 2026

The full list of best places to live in North Carolina includes:

• Raleigh
• Charlotte
• Durham
• Apex
• Morrisville
• Asheville
• Winston-Salem
• Wilmington
• Boone
• Cary
• Greensboro
• Greenville
• Chapel Hill

Is Asheville, NC, a good place to live?

WorldAtlas called Asheville “an artsy mountain town that welcomes residents with a creative spirit and seemingly endless green spaces.” When it came to reasons why writers suggested it as one of the state’s best places to live, the following was cited:

• Outdoor recreation options that draw travelers from around the globe, from waterfalls to whitewater rapids.
• An escape from “the heat associated with much of the state” due to the area’s elevation.
• The River Arts District, including its art galleries and studios, breweries and historic buildings.

Is Boone, NC a good place to live?

WorldAtlas stated that making a home in the Appalachian Mountains means “waking up to the sight of rolling green hills out of your window.” Writers suggested Boone as one of the Tar Heel State’s best locations to live in 2026 because of the following: