Man charged with setting Roswell church blaze

A man initially described as a person of interest in a fire that heavily damaged a Roswell Catholic church has now been charged with setting the blaze, an official said Monday.

Officials have not established a motive in Sunday's fire at the Epiphany Byzantine Catholic Church, but Juan Carlos Ramirez, 24, of Roswell, was charged with arson "as a result of the investigation and a subsequent confession," Roswell Fire Department spokesman Paul Piccirilli said in an emailed statement.

Firefighters responded to the blaze at the Old Alabama Road church around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Piccirilli said.

Parts of the church and about an acre of woods surrounding the building were in flames when firefighters arrived, according to Channel 2 Action News. A passerby spotted the fire and called 911, the television station reported.

Ramirez was arrested near the scene of the fire and initially charged with disorderly conduct, Roswell police spokeswoman Lisa Holland said.

Police told Channel 2 that Ramirez was “running around naked” and saying he either was Jesus or knows him.

The Orthodox Church leaders next door to Epiphany Byzantine have agreed to let the congregation use their building until Epiphany is repaired. Epiphany Byzantine sustained moderate fire and smoke damage, Piccirilli said.