Gwinnett police make arrest in church arson

By Christopher Seward

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gwinnett County police arrested a Snellville man Friday and charged him with an arson fire at Zoar United Methodist Church.

Gwinnett Fire Department David Wayne Stone Jr., 23, was booked into the Gwinnett County Detention Center, fire Captain Tommy Rutledge said Saturday. Charges include first-degree arson and burglary. He was charged in the fire at Zoar United Methodist Church near Snellville

Gwinnett County Fire Dept, Gwinnett County Fire Dept A store surveillance video shows a man described by authorities as a "person of interest" in an arson fire early Friday morning at Zoar United Methodist Church in Snellville. He is seen entering a nearby store before the fire was reported.

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David Wayne Stone Jr., 23, was booked into the Gwinnett County Detention Center, fire Captain Tommy Rutledge said Saturday. Charges include first-degree arson and burglary.

During an interview with investigators, authorities said Stone admitted to unlawfully entering the church on Zoar Church Road near Snellville and setting the fire.

Police had released surveillance photos of a man they described as "a person of interest" entering a store before the early morning fire at the nearby church.

The fire, reported shortly after midnight, caused minor damage to the gymnasium building of Zoar United Methodist Church.  The flames had already been doused by a sprinkler system when firefighters arrived, Rutledge said.

The fire captain said it appeared someone had broken into the back of the building and intentionally set a fire. He also said there were signs of slight vandalism inside the gym.

"The Fire Department takes the crime of arson serious and we are fortunate to have made an arrest so quickly," Rutledge said Saturday.

A reward of up to $10,000 was offered by Georgia Arson Control Inc. for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for setting the fire. There was no word on whether the reward would be issued.

Staff writers David Ibata and Mike Morris contributed to this article.