By BRAD GASKINS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – A Wilton man charged in February with manufacturing a controlled substance was arrested last week in Eufaula, Ala.

Tommy Roger Carden was transported back here and booked June 29 into the Shelby County Jail, where he is being held on $500,000 bond.

Shelby County authorities allege Carden, 45, was inside a Maylene house Feb. 18 when it caught fire after a meth lab exploded inside.

Two people were arrested at the scene, but authorities say Carden fled the house, located in the 11000 block of Shelby County Road 17, before authorities arrived.

“We just had to find him,” said Lt. Chris George, commander of the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force.