Man arrested after fire at singles meeting

J.D. Gallop | FLORIDA TODAY

A 48-year-old West Melbourne man remains jailed after police say he started a fire inside a church during a Christian singles movie night meeting.

The small fire was reported Saturday at the New Hope Lutheran Church at 870 Hollywood Blvd. after someone reported smelling burning popcorn, police report. A witness walked down the hallway and found a burning stack of paper in an office.

"It could have endangered the lives of people if it had gotten out of control," said Capt. Richard Cordeau, spokesman for the West Melbourne Police Department.

John Oliver Todd was charged with first-degree arson inside a structure with people present and booked into the Brevard County Jail without bond.

Police said Todd was attending the event at the church and for an undisclosed reason decided to light a ream of copy paper on fire.

"Somebody smelled the smoke and someone carried it outside," Cordeau said. he confirmed that the incident was not hate-crime related.

Police say Todd was seen by witnesses prior to the fire poking his head in and out of a doorway leading to the office where the fire was found. Another witness said she had been concerned about Todd's recent postings on social media.

Officers searched him and found a lighter. He was arrested and transported to the county jail.

He is expected to go before a judge later today.