Ocala, FL - A man was taken into custody on Wednesday after being accused of intentionally starting fires at an Ocala church and a residential property's laundry machine.
The suspect, identified as 43-year-old Rodney Ferguson, was observed approaching Isom Memorial Church on 1320 SW 4th St. at approximately 1 a.m. on Wednesday, according to law enforcement officials.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing Ferguson ignite the front door of the church before proceeding to SW Martin Luther King Ave.
There, he allegedly set fire to a laundry machine located on a covered patio behind a residence, as per the police department's statement.
Officers apprehended Ferguson a few blocks away from the scene of the second fire.
He was found in possession of two lighters and an open, half-full beer can.
Firefighters promptly extinguished both fires, and fortunately, no injuries were reported.
However, the church and the patio sustained damage as a result of the flames, authorities confirmed.
When requested, law enforcement indicated that video footage of the incidents is currently unavailable.
Ferguson is now facing charges of arson, with one count pertaining to the church fire and the other related to the residential property.