KENNESAW — An arrest has been made in connection with a Christmas Day church fire in White County.
On January 3, Investigators with the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office charged 33-year-old Clint Vance, of Kennesaw, with 1 count of Arson in the First Degree, 1 count of Criminal Damage to property in the Second Degree, 1 count of Possession of Tools for the Commission of a Crime, and 1 count of Vandalism of a Place of Worship.
According to state fire officials, a fire was set to the back exterior wall of Solid Rock Baptist Church at 7662 Hwy 115 West in Cleveland.
Video surveillance images were released by the state Fire Investigations Unit in an effort to identify and locate the suspect. The exposure garnered from the release of the suspect’s picture resulted in an anonymous tip coming into the Fire Investigations Unit.
This sparked an investigation into Vance, which resulted in the charges. He was already incarcerated in Cherokee County Jail for unrelated charges when the charges for the Christmas Day arson were handed down.
“Thanks to an anonymous tip, we were able to locate and identify this individual less than 24 hours after announcing our interest,” said Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King. “This is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement, the media, and members of the public come together in search of a dangerous criminal.”
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