A man being sought for questioning in the massive arson fire that gutted a historic Brooklyn church was taken into custody early Wednesday morning, police said.
The 24-year-old was busted at 1:39 a.m. trying to steal food from a Times Square-area CVS on Broadway near W. 49th St., police said.
He pilfered a sandwich, a Coca-Cola and ice cream, police said, then tried to leave before being stopped by an NYPD officer working private security at the store.
The officer asked the man if he intended to pay for the food, at which point the man said no and was busted for petty larceny, cops said.
FDNY firefighters are pictured at the scene of a three-alarm fire at South Bushwick Reformed Church on Bushwick Ave. in Brooklyn on Friday, June 19, 2026. (FDNY/X)
Once the individual was in custody, police realized he was the person of interest being sought for the June 19 arson fire that destroyed the South Bushwick Reformed Church on Bushwick Ave. near Himrod St.
Videos and photos of the fire on social media showed flames and clouds of dark smoke billowing from the house of worship’s steeple, which collapsed a short time later.
Of the 200 firefighters who responded to battle the blaze, one suffered minor injuries.
Police and the FDNY later said a person of interest was seen fleeing the scene.
FDNY firefighters are pictured at the scene of a three-alarm fire at South Bushwick Reformed Church on Bushwick Ave. in Brooklyn on Friday, June 19, 2026. (FDNY/X)
The man, who lives in Harlem, is expected to be charged with arson, police said.
He has a prior arrest for criminal mischief for allegedly knocking over and damaging a television outside D.O.C. Wine Bar in Williamsburg on June 29, according to cops.
Days after the fire, members of the nearly 175-year-old church launched a GoFundMe in hopes of resurrecting their home and keeping the congregation together.