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A Florida man is facing charges for allegedly setting fire to the Chabad of Charlotte County in Punta Gorda on Friday, just days before the Jewish communitys High Holy Days.<\/p>\n
The Punta Gorda Police Department said 31-year-old Blake Richard Hoover was taken into custody on Monday following an intensive investigation with assistance from the Charlotte County Sheriffs Office. He has been charged with arson and criminal mischief and booked into the Charlotte County Jail.<\/p>\n
The fire broke out around 10:48 p.m. on Friday, when Punta Gorda police and fire units responded to an alarm at the synagogue on W. Henry Street. Firefighters arriving at the scene found flames at the back of the building, quickly extinguished the blaze, and confirmed no one was inside. Investigators later determined an accelerant had been used to ignite the back wall of a childrens classroom. They also discovered the letter \u201cJ\u201d spray-painted across several walls and sidewalks on the property.<\/p>\n
Detectives spent the weekend canvassing the neighborhood, collecting surveillance footage, and interviewing witnesses. On Monday, a family member tipped police that Hoover might be responsible. Shortly afterward, the Charlotte County Sheriffs Office, investigating an unrelated matter, received a similar tip from another family member. Those leads gave detectives probable cause to obtain search warrants for Hoovers bedroom, vehicle, and electronic devices, where investigators say they found additional evidence linking him to the crime.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur hearts go out to our Jewish community members,\u201d said Punta Gorda Police Chief Pamela Smith. \u201cThis was a despicable act that is not representative of the great City of Punta Gorda. We hope that you can celebrate the High Holy Days knowing an arrest has been made, and we wish you peace and happiness for the New Year.\u201d<\/p>\n
The police department said it will maintain an increased presence around the Chabad during the High Holy Days.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you commit a crime of this type, you can bet there will be plenty of resources working to identify and locate you. CCSO and the Punta Gorda Police Department are not strangers to helping one another, and this case is another example of how that collaboration pays off,\u201d said Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell. \u201cWe do not sit idly by; we take immediate action to make sure our community knows they are safe \u2014 safe to do the things they love, to worship where they choose, and to enjoy our little piece of paradise called Charlotte County. Thank you to our partners at PGPD and to my detectives for bringing this suspect in without hesitation so our community can be at ease.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n