A 31-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a fire at a synagogue last week that investigators in southwest Florida are treating as a hate crime.

Blake Richard Hoover was arrested Monday and charged with arson and criminal mischief, according to a statement from Punta Gorda Sheriff Bill Prummell. Advertisement

The arrest was made after Hoover’s mother was made aware of the fire and feared that her son was responsible, according to a probable cause affidavit.

“Kelly Hoover reported she was watching the news this morning and saw the report about the arson investigation and immediately thought it was Blake Hoover,” Detective Jose Delgado wrote in the affidavit.

The suspect’s mother told police that “Blake Hoover has a hatred toward homosexuals and Jewish people that’s become w

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