A suspect who committed arson at a Tampa church has been arrested and charged.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, working in partnership with the Hillsborough County Fire Marshal’s Office, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), charged Eugenio Rodriguez-Colina, 45, with burglary and arson of the Incarnation Catholic Church on Wednesday evening, September 30.
Video obtained from the church was used to identify the suspect who set fire to multiple pews on September 18.
Arsonist at large after setting fire to pews at Tampa-area Catholic Church. Cops say nothing was stolen. pic.twitter.com/oFVzJkyC8u
— GrantB911 (@GrantB911) September 23, 2020
Four days later, on September 22, surveillance video from a business burglary at the Granada Meat Market, located at 8230 W Waters Avenue, helped detectives identify the suspect in that case as the same suspect in the church arson. The suspect was seen on surveillance cameras stealing food and cigarettes from the market after smashing the glass front door to gain entry just before midnight.
Ultimately, Rodriguez-Colina was located and arrested on September 28 for shoplifting at a Walmart located at 8220 N Dale Mabry Highway.
HCSO detectives, arson investigators, and ATF investigators continued to work through these cases after Rodriguez-Colina’s initial arrest. On Wednesday, September 30, they were able to add on the charges of criminal mischief while wearing a mask (felony), arson, and armed burglary for the Incarnation offense. He was also charged with burglary while wearing a mask, criminal mischief (misdemeanor), and petit theft for the Meat Market offense. Rodriguez-Colina was already in jail for the Walmart incident.
“Houses of worship are such special places in our community, and we will never tolerate this type of criminal behavior,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “I am thankful that through good detective work and the collaboration of multiple agencies we have taken this individual off of our streets so that he can no longer wreak havoc in Hillsborough County.”
