Detroit Police Seek Suspect in Church, Wendy's Arsons

Authorities in Detroit are seeking public assistance to identify a person of interest linked to two fires set at the historic former Bushnell Congregational Church on March 22, 2025. The individual, seen on surveillance footage around the time of both fires, matches the description of a man who also set a fire at a nearby Wendy’s restaurant. Officials describe the suspect as a man with a light complexion, dark hair, wearing a gray sweatshirt, dark gray pants, black and white sneakers, and a large black puffy coat. The historic church, established in 1926, was initially targeted with a smaller fire earlier that morning before the main fire at 8:30 a.m. The church has been in the news previously due to a legal dispute involving a nondenominational church occupying the building. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Detroit Police Department’s Arson Unit or Crime Stoppers.