A man arrested for allegedly setting fire to a church twice

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Pennsylvania police arrested a suspect linked to two arson attacks in the same church earlier this week.

Wilmer J. Ortiz Torres, 43, was arrested on Friday and charged with arson, burglary and criminal trespassing in the two fires that occurred between Tuesday and Thursday at the Pentecostal Iglesia of Bethlehem, the police said in a statement.

PHOTO: Benches burned as a result of a fire in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which was declared at the Iglesia Pentecostal Church in Bethlehem on April 23, 2019.
April Gamiz / The Morning Call via AP
Benches burned as a result of a fire in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which erupted at the Iglesia Pentecostal Church in Bethlehem on April 23, 2019.

The first of the fires broke out Tuesday just before midnight. Police said that "it seems like an individual has entered the area of ​​the church sanctuary and intentionally lit the fire."

Although the fire was already extinguished when the firefighters arrived, thick smoke could be seen coming from the building and firefighters had to ventilate the building to allow smoke to escape. No injuries have been reported and the damage appears to be mainly due to smoke, soot and heat.

Elizabeth Collado, the daughter of the church minister, told ABCF on Wednesday that WPVI, the church "has never encountered any problems with anyone here. "

PHOTO: Elizabeth Collazo, the daughter of Pastor Carmen L. Cruz, crosses the church badly damaged after the fire of Iglesia Pentecostal church of Bethlehem, April 23, 2019, in Allentown, in the # State of Pennsylvania.
April Gamiz / The Morning Call via AP
Elizabeth Collazo, daughter of Pastor Carmen L. Cruz, crosses the church damaged by the fire damage of the church Iglesia Pentecostal De Bethlehem, April 23, 2019, in Allentown, in the # State of Pennsylvania.

"You know, it makes us cry," she continued. "We were talking about homelessness before. It looks like roaming. Where are we going to worship? This is our house of worship. "

The second fire occurred around 2 am Thursday morning. Police said the fire had been extinguished quickly and that it was confined to the roof of the building, where officials said it seemed that someone had gone up and had ignited an accelerator.

Torres was arrested Friday in Allentown and sued Friday night, police said. We did not know immediately if he had a connection with the church.

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