Police release photos of suspect in Lynn church fire

LYNN – Police have released photos and are asking for the public’s help in identifying a person believed to be vandalizing the El Siloe Church five days before the church was destroyed by arson.”The El Siloe Church was vandalized on eight separate occasions prior to the fire,” Lynn Police Lt. Christopher Kelly wrote in a press release Wednesday. “The vandalism incidents led up to the eventual arson of the church and are being investigated by the Lynn Police Department and the arson squads of the Lynn Fire Department and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.”View the surveillance photos and photos from the fireA fire destroyed the The El-Siloe Seventh Day Adventist Church on Liberty Street in the early morning of May 22. The 118-year-old structure at 51 Liberty St. was demolished the following day. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Jennifer Mieth said investigators ruled Monday afternoon that the fire was intentionally set.Kelly said the photos were taken during a May 17 vandalism incident, the last incident of vandalism prior to the fire.Kelly encouraged anyone who has any information regarding the suspect in the photographs or information regarding the arson of the church to contact the Lynn Police Department at (781) 595-2000 or they can text an anonymous tip to Lynn Police at (tip Lynn and then the information to tip411). The Office of the State Fire Marshal has a 24 hour arson reward hotline that can also be reached at 1-800-682-9229 with a $5,000 reward currently offered for information regarding the arson.Mieth said that officials are investigating the fire as a single incident of arson, not tying it to other arsons in the city.A March fire at 145 Lewis St. that left 70 to 80 residents homeless was also ruled arson.Mieth said details of the incident and arson ruling would not be released while the investigation continues.The church’s pastor, Abner Polynice, said Iglesia Adventista del Septimo Dia de Lynn offered El Siloe temporary refuge in Septimo Dia, a former temple off Lewis Street. He said church members are looking for land or a building locally where they can open a new church or build one. Polynice said congregation members would like to find a permanent home in two to three months.