Florida authorities said they have the man who set fire to a Catholic church in Tampa.
Eugenio Rodriguez-Colina was the man seen on surveillance video setting fire to Incarnation Catholic Church on the night of Sept. 18, deputies said.
Officers arrested Rodriguez-Colina on Monday. based on a surveillance video that allegedly showed him smashing a window and robbing the Granada Meat Market on Sept. 22.
Once arrested, Hillsborough County police credited a video recording from the church with helping them connect Rodriguez-Colina to the fire that was set four days previously.
Speaking to parishioners after the fire, Father Michael Cormier implored his congregation to pray for the man.
“We pray for this individual, that you remove the malice and the hatred from his heart,” Cormier said. “Lord, that which does not kill us makes us stronger.”
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said the church, like others in the community, is a “special” place and that his department would not stand for the destruction of property.
“Houses of worship are such special places in our community, and we will never tolerate this type of criminal behavior,” Chronister said.
