PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County deputies have arrested a man for allegedly starting two fires at churches claiming that he "set the fires for God."
Deputies say that Brody Allen Seiger, 33, set the fires at two Tampa Bay area churches between 11 p.m. on Saturday, February 3 and 1 a.m. on Sunday, February 4.
According to detectives, at about 8 a.m. on Sunday, February 4, deputies were called to the Seminole United Methodist Church and the Universal Harmony Church in Seminole, for reports of two suspicious fires.
Detectives say both churches were unoccupied at the time and the fires caused minor property damage.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives obtained surveillance video of the man they believed was responsible for the church fires. The surveillance video was shared on social media and detectives received a tip that helped to identify Seiger as the suspect.
On Tuesday, detectives interviewed Seiger and say that he admitted to setting the church fires claiming that "he set the fires for God," according to a press release.
According to detectives, Seiger broke a window at the Universal Harmony Church during the late night hours of February. Seiger allegedly lit a doormat on fire and pushed the doormat through the broken window of the church. About an hour later, he allegedly broke a window at the Seminole United Methodist Church, poured gasoline through the broken window and ignited the gasoline.
Detectives arrested Seiger and charged him two counts of first-degree arson.
