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Police seek man who set fire at North Georgia church on Christmas

Local and state investigators are searching for a suspected arsonist accused of starting a fire at a North Georgia church on Christmas night.
Local and state investigators are searching for a suspected arsonist accused of starting a fire at a North Georgia church on Christmas night.
Jan 3, 2020

Local and state investigators are searching for a suspected arsonist accused of starting a fire at a North Georgia church on Christmas night.

The fire was set behind the Solid Rock Baptist Church on Ga. 115 in Cleveland, Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King said in a news release.

Authorities are searching for a man they say started a fire outside this White County church.
Authorities are searching for a man they say started a fire outside this White County church. 

Video surveillance from the church captured what appears to be a man in his mid- to late 30s setting the blaze, which caused minor damage to the outside of the 7,000-square-foot wooden structure.

The fire caused minor damage to the outside of the 7,000-square-foot church.
The fire caused minor damage to the outside of the 7,000-square-foot church.

According to police, the fire burned out on its own and went unnoticed until the following morning. The suspect’s identity is not known, but authorities are asking anyone who recognizes him to come forward.

“We are confident that someone in the area knows who the man is in the surveillance footage,” King said.

Anyone who knows the man is asked to call investigators at 1-800-282-5804. A reward of up to $10,000 has been offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

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