ORLANDO, Fla. – Investigators are looking for help to identify a man they believe was involved in an arson last month that happened at an abandoned building in Orlando that used to be a church.
The fire happened at a building at 2332 North Hiawassee Road near Silver Star Road on Feb. 8.
Florida’s Division of Investigative and Forensic Services released photos of a man they say was on the property and is connected to the fire.
Orange County Fire Rescue at the time said the fire damaged about 80% of the building, and caused the roof to collapse on the 20,000-square-foot structure. No one was inside and the building was abandoned.
Pastor Omar owns property next door and called 911 when the fire started in February. He said the property has been a problem spot since it was abandoned.
“I had a gentleman working on my property. He said he saw a guy in all black, slender guy, walking around the property arguing on the phone with somebody. And not to long after he left, I came and I smelled smoke,” he said.
Surveillance video shared to News 6 shows the man investigators believe was involved with the arson:
County records list the building as the home of the Northwestern Learning Center, which is listed as a not-for-profit corporation in Florida business records. Before that, it was the Agape Assembly Baptist Church.
It looks like the Agape Assembly Baptist Church used to own both properties at 2332 N. Hiawassee (where the fire was in February) and at 2425 N. Hiawassee (where the fire was in 2021).
“This church, Agape Church, was a stable part of the community in the past. It’s been here for a long time, but at this time it’s not helping the community,” Pastor Omar said. “It breeds, you know, crime, vandalism, theft, and things of that nature.”
The site at 2332 N. Hiwassee used to be the Christian charter school. According to the appraiser, Agape sold that building to Northwestern Learning Center in 2012. The Experience Christian Center purchased the 2425 N. Hiawassee property last year and has plans to revitalize it.
“It’s a sad thing to see the church in this condition, but I really hope they can do something with it. Either fix it, bring another church in, or do something, or just tear it down. Because it’s not good for Pine Hills,” he said.
Anyone with information on the identity of the man in the photos, contact Det. Anthony Kemeny at 407-316-4810 or 321-503-5378. Reference case number 24-478.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: