Suspect, 21, Arrested in Fire at S.D. Church

Arson investigators arrested a 21-year-old man Friday in connection with a fire that severely damaged a Mira Mesa church. The man reportedly had sought help at the church four months earlier.

Shawn Thompson was taken into custody at his home in a trailer park across the street from the First Baptist Church, said Detective John Buono of the Metro Arson Strike Team.

Thompson was booked on suspicion of burglary and arson and held on $25,000 bail in County Jail downtown. The 6-foot-2, 400-pound, unemployed man offered no resistance, Buono said.

Thompson admitted to investigators that he had set the blaze, Buono said. “He was elated when he found out” the damage he had caused, Buono said. “He smiled and laughed. He thought it was good.”

The fire started about 2:30 a.m. Thursday. On Friday, Buono said investigators determined that the fire began behind the altar and spread to the ceiling and across the floor to the front of the church.

A witness told investigators she had seen Thompson near the church as firefighters battled the blaze, Buono said. The witness “thought that it was strange that he was out there.” The witness recognized Thompson because he had attended church several times, Buono said.

Thompson said he set the fire because he was upset that the church did not accept a donation of a ring he valued at $10 last Sunday, Buono said.

But the Rev. Dwight Simpson, pastor of the church, described the incident differently. He said when Thompson threw the envelope containing the ring into the collection basket, the ring fell onto the floor and was picked up by a deacon. The deacon showed Thompson the envelope and then gave it to the pastor.

Simpson said he had planned to call Thompson’s mother to return the ring but has not done so because of the fire and the death of a parishioner late Thursday.

The pastor described Thompson as a “disturbed young man who needs help.” Thompson, the pastor said, showed up at the church about four months ago and said he had problems and needed help.

Simpson said he hopes Thompson will receive some professional counseling. “If they just put him in jail, when he gets out we’ll still have the same disturbed young man,” Simpson said.

Damage to the church was estimated at $500,000, Simpson said, adding that the church is less than a year old and was built at a cost of $850,000.

Simpson said he plans to hold Sunday services at the congregation’s assembly hall.

“We’re sorry he did this to us,” Simpson said. “But we’re not sorry we tried to help him.”