LAKELAND, Fla. — A suspect is in custody after a fire engulfed part of a strip mall in Lakeland Wednesday night.
Polk County Fire Rescue said firefighters responded to the fire at 2940 South Combee Road around 9:47 p.m.
Sixteen crews immediately encountered heavy flames but quickly gained control of the fire and prevented it from spreading to other businesses.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office told crews that they saw a possible suspect igniting the fire on surveillance video.
While reviewing surveillance video from a nearby store, deputies identified the suspect, Gordon Nelson, sitting on a bicycle next to a stack of pallets outside the building. Nelson then appeared to be attempting to light the pallets on fire. Deputies said in the video he then rode away, and the pallets ignited.
According to PCSO, deputies found a suspect, Nelson, matching the description shown in the video, and he fled.
When deputies located Nelson, they identified him as the suspect in the video.
Nelson told deputies he did not start the fire but only observed it after it started.
PCSO said deputies searched Nelson during his arrest and found an orange lighter in his left pocket.
Officials said Nelson was arrested and transported to the Sheriff's Processing Center without incident.
