JENSEN BEACH, Fla. — A suspect has been arrested after a fire was set at Savannas Preserve State Park late Wednesday night, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators say a witness initially flagged down officers a mile away near Goose Pub in Jensen Beach, after seeing Morgan Grante Lentz, 22, of Melbourne, pour gasoline onto a motorcycle. The witness said the man was dressed as a pirate.
WATCH: Sword-carrying man arrested for state park arson
The owner of the motorcycle chased Lentz on foot but he fled the area. Deputies then responded to Savannas Preserve State Park for reports of a man matching Lentz's description carrying a torch and setting grass on fire.
Kylie Micciche and her husband Max, who took the video of Lentz's arrest, were on their way home Wednesday when they saw the scene and called 911.
"Everything just started to get engulfed in flames," Kylie said.
When deputies located Lentz they say he also had a samurai sword attached to his waist. He surrendered to deputies at gunpoint, but began resisting arrest after being placed in custody. Investigators say Lentz was making statements that didn't make sense.
Another witness filmed the fire and Lentz's arrest. Multiple witnesses told investigators they saw a man carrying a lit torch and lighting grass on fire in the preserve.
Sheriff John Budensiek told WPTV several factors helped save the preserve from more damage: "We had witnesses that called right away and gave us a play-by-play of what was going on, and then we had the wind in our favor blowing in the right direction."
Deputies later found one-and-a-half gallons of gasoline in milk jugs in front of the Goose Pub. The fire spread approximately 40 yards and Martin County Fire Rescue extinguished it without any rekindling. They say no structures were in danger.
WATCH: Witness video of Lentz's arrest
WPTV learned Lentz is a student at the University of Central Florida, and has no ties to Martin County.
According to the arrest affidavit, Lentz is facing charges of intentional or reckless land burning, criminal mischief over $1,000 and resisting arrest without violence. The fire is still being investigated.
