Suspect charged with arson after fire at a Florida synagogue days before Rosh Hashanah

A 31-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a fire at a synagogue last week that investigators in southwest Florida are treating as a hate crime.

Blake Richard Hoover was arrested Monday and charged with arson and criminal mischief to a church, synagogue, mosque or religious article – both felonies – according to court records.

The arrest was made after Hoover’s mother was made aware of the fire and feared her son was responsible, according to a probable cause affidavit.

“Kelly Hoover reported she was watching the news this morning and saw the report about the arson investigation and immediately thought it was Blake Hoover,” Detective Jose Delgado wrote in the affidavit.

The suspect’s mother told police her son “has a hatred toward homosexuals and Jewish people that’s become worse over the past years,” the court document states.

Read more: CNN