A Florida man has been arrested for arson after attempting to burn down a church and catching a washing machine on fire that was on the porch of a residence.
On July 5, at around 1 a.m., Rodney Deangelo Ferguson, 43, was seen approaching Isom Memorial Church at 1320 SW 4th St., Ocala, FL.
According to Ocala Police, the witness saw Ferguson ignite the front door of the church, which caused visible fire damage.
Police say the witness also saw Ferguson walking towards SW Martin Luther King Ave.
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Another fire was started at 407 SW Martin Luther King Ave., where Ferguson allegedly set a laundry machine on fire in a small covered patio at the back of the residence.
The patio awning sustained visible fire damage. Ferguson was detained by officers approximately two blocks north of the second fire location possessing two lighters.
He was also carrying a half-full, open beer can in his back pocket. The witness positively identified Ferguson as the arson suspect.
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Ocala Fire Rescue swiftly responded to the scene and extinguished the fires. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries. Additionally, the presence of Ocala Police officers in the vicinity proved crucial as they promptly located the suspect, preventing his escape.
Ferguson now faces two counts of arson; one for a church and one for a residential dwelling.
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