Suspect arrested in Florida synagogue arson, hate crime

A suspect has been arrested in connection with a fire at a Florida synagogue that investigators treated as arson and a hate crime. Blake Richard Hoover, 31, of Charlotte County, was charged with arson and criminal mischief in the Friday blaze at the Chabad of Charlotte County in Punta Gorda, according to the Punta Gorda Police Department. Firefighters responded to a fire alarm just before 11 p.m. and found flames coming from the rear of the building. The fire was contained to a single room and no one was inside the synagogue at the time; no injuries were reported.

Investigators said an accelerant was used to start the fire at the back wall of the children’s classroom, and the letter J was spray-painted on walls and sidewalks around the property. The incident occurred in the days leading up to the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. On Monday morning, a family member contacted detectives with a tip that Hoover might be responsible; a second tip arrived from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office after they were alerted to a separate incident involving Hoover.

After speaking with Hoover and witnesses, investigators obtained and executed search warrants on Hoover’s bedroom, his vehicle and his electronic devices. He was arrested and transported to the Charlotte County Jail. Punta Gorda Police Chief Pamela Smith said the act targeted a place of worship and described the fire as a despicable act that harms the local Jewish community. The department signaled a strong stance against hate-motivated crime and emphasized the safety of residents during the High Holy Days.

Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell praised the teamwork between his detectives and the Punta Gorda police, saying the collaboration underscores the commitment to keeping the community safe and able to worship freely in their homes and in their houses of prayer. The investigation remains active, and authorities said the charges reflect initial findings that the blaze was deliberately set and tied to a hate crime. The case is being handled by local law enforcement with support from state and federal partners as needed. No injuries were reported, and investigators said the fire did not cause widespread damage beyond the room where it started.