Norman Park man arrested in Mitchell County church arson case

Feb. 01--CAMILLA -- A Norman Park man arrested in Dougherty County on Wednesday has been charged with arson in the Tuesday morning blaze that damaged a church in Mitchell County.

Kentrez Gardner, 37, of Norman Park, was arrested Wednesday afternoon, the office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens said. Gardner was being held in the Mitchell County Jail on Thursday on a charge of first-degree arson and a charge of burglary.

Hudgens' office said Gardner was reported to be a former member of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, located at 8572 Pinecliff Road in Camilla. The church sustained more than $100,000 in damages, officials estimate.

According to investigators, Gardner confessed to burglarizing and setting fire to the church.

The fire was reported around 8 a.m. Tuesday, and state fire officials said there was heavy damage to the interior of the 63-year-old church. Several items were missing from the church, and investigators said they believe the fire was started to cover up the burglary, Hudgens said.

Investigators with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mitchell County Sheriff's Office and Dougherty County police arrested Gardner in Dougherty County, Hudgens' office said. State officials said the sheriff's offices in Thomas and Colquitt counties also aided in the investigation.

___

(c)2018 The Albany Herald, Ga.

Visit The Albany Herald, Ga. at www.albanyherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.