Pinellas Detectives Seek Help Identifying Church Arson Suspect

SEMINOLE, FL – The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help to identify a suspect who may have set fire to two Seminole churches.

According to detectives, at about 8 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 4, deputies were called to the Seminole United Methodist Church, 5400 Seminole Blvd., and the Universal Harmony Church in Seminole, 5903 Seminole Blvd., to investigate fires at the churches.

The fires were set between 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, and 8 a.m. Sunday.

Detectives say the flames caused minor property damage and no one was injured. However, they believe the fires are related and were set intentionally.

Detectives obtained surveillance video of a man who they say is a suspect in the arson investigations. The suspect is seen in the surveillance video at about 12:39 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 4, walking south in the area of Seminole Boulevard and 63rd Avenue North.

He is a white male, 20 to 30 years old with a thin to medium build and short hair. The video shows him wearing a dark-colored T-shirt, dark-colored pants, dark-colored shoes and carrying a large dark-colored gym bag.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Larry McLean of the Arson & Auto Theft Unit at (727) 583-6399 or lmclean@pcsonet.com. To remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org.

Video via Pinellas County Sheriff's Office