HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (WSVN) - A hefty reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest for a church fire in Hollywood.
Lutheran Memorial Lutheran Church, at 1925 North State Road 7, went up in flames on July 15.
“I was bewildered,” said Jerry Bennett, the church’s vice chair. “I didn’t know what to think. I don’t know if he was aggravated at some of the groups we use, or maybe he had an issue with God. I don’t know.”
The damage to the house of worship was not severe, but church officials said the intent has left the congregation alarmed.
On Thursday, surveillance video was released showing a suspect who authorities believe was behind the arson.
He could be seen in the footage carrying a gas canister and pouring gas on the ground before lighting a match.
The church’s staff said they were shocked and dismayed by the subject’s actions and by what he did after he set the fire.
“We saw him walking down the driveway, and then, we saw him pouring the gas along the church, and then apparently, he sat down in the bench right here to have a cigarette,” said Bennett. “He wasn’t very good as an arsonist because he bent down right in front of the gasoline to light it and almost caught himself on fire.”
Bennett said a surveillance camera was able to capture a clear picture of the subject’s face.
“When he got up from that, he had his mask down, and he put it back up, so we got a pretty good shot of his face,” he said.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Florida Department of Financial Services, Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention and Hollywood Fire are offering a reward up to $7,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for the fire.
Anyone with any information about this arson should contact ATF at 1-888-283-3473 or 1-877-662-7766.
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