Authorities today arrested a man for setting a former church on fire in St. John the Baptist Parish.
"State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan J Adams is announcing the arrest of a Reserve man accused of setting fire to a daycare facility in Laplace," State Fire Marshal's Office Public Affairs Director Ashley Rodrigue said in a news release.
Timothy Charles, Jr. faces aggravated arson and burglary charges.
"Deputies determined the fire was intentionally set and identified Charles, the ex-husband of the daycare owner, as the suspect."
Rodrigue says the 39-year-old suspect set the blaze in the 100 block of West 5th Street in Laplace Thursday.
"The building was most recently being used as a daycare, but it is better known in the community as a former church. The fire threatened an occupied neighboring home and destroyed three vehicles."
