LAKELAND, Fla. — A man was arrested and charged with arson after being caught on camera setting the New Testament Ministries Food Pantry in Lakeland on fire.
Polk County Fire Rescue crews were called to the fire shortly before 10 p.m. on Wednesday. While they managed to control the blaze, the building sustained severe damage. Dais Abraham, the co-founder of New Testament Ministries, posted a video on social media showing first responders on the scene.
Polk County deputies were also on the scene. Security cameras caught a man, later identified as Gorden Nelson, starting the fire before quickly leaving the scene on a bicycle.
According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Nelson was identified by witnesses and arrested early Thursday morning.
Nelson allegedly told authorities he went to the store, started the fire and sat down to watch. After he was asked why he started the fire, the man reportedly told law enforcement he actually never started it and only saw the fire after it was ablaze.
An orange lighter was found in Nelson's left pocket, and his ex-wife was able to identify the person in the camera footage as him.
The man was then arrested and taken to the sheriff's processing center.
"This will affect a lot of families who depend [on the pantry] for food and support," said Abraham.
According to the nonprofit site FindHelp.org, there are more than two dozen food banks in Lakeland, including mobile food pantries, church-run food services, and emergency resource centers.