By Meghan McCormick
Cleveland County prosecutors have charged a Florida man with arson for allegedly setting a Moore church on fire early Tuesday.
Richard Shawn Arnold, 29, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was charged Tuesday afternoon with second-degree arson and second-degree burglary, according to court records.
Arnold has been held at the Cleveland County Detention Center since he was booked in 7:35 a.m. Tuesday, according to a Cleveland County Sheriff's Department employee. No bond has been set.
About 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, a fire was reported at the Hope Adventist Fellowship Church, 1426 NE 12th St.
"We received the call at 5:36 a.m.," Moore Deputy Fire Chief Gary Bird said.
The blaze consumed the building, and the church is considered a total loss, he said. Twenty-eight firefighters, plus Bird and the fire chief responded to the scene.
Bird said no injuries were reported. After investigating the scene, investigators determined the fire was intentionally set.
According to a court affidavit, a witness saw Arnold run from the church at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday with a "lighter wand." The witness also told investigators he saw a thin line of smoke come from the building.
Moore police arrested Arnold at the scene for public intoxication, according to the affidavit. Officers found a lighter matching the description of the lighter seen by the witness.
"Although he denies setting the fire, he admitted to attempting to enter the church," according to the court affidavit.
Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com
