LEESBURG Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives have arrested a man and charged him with breaking into GraceWay church last year and setting it on fire, causing at least half-million dollars in damages.
Michael J. Leachman, 31, of the 10000 block of Patrick Drive, was jailed Monday on second-degree arson and burglary charges and held on $35,000 bond.
He was a suspect from the start after the Jan. 10 incident, where firefighters blocked Radio Road for hours so they could pour thousands of gallons of water on the smoke-filled youth building.
Church administrator Susan Day said she was “relieved” that authorities had made an arrest.
Photos courtesy of the Pinole Police Department
A man was arrested on suspicion of shooting into an unoccupied vehicle in Pinole on at least two occasions during the early morning hours, including at 2:44 a.m. this morning, police said.
Police responded to the 800 block of Patrick Drive on a report of several gunshots and found the vehicle with recent gunfire damage to the body and windows.
“No persons were found to be injured and no damage to surrounding vehicles or residences was discovered,” police said.
The shooter fled the area, but Pinole police investigated and identified a suspect, a Pinole resident, who was detained by officers just after 10 a.m.