DEARBORN, Mich. – A 43-year-old Inkster man has been charged for lighting a firework inside a chapel at Divine Child Church in Dearborn, officials announced Tuesday.
David A. Cerne is charged with third-degree arson, arson prep to burn real property and malicious destruction of property under $200.
Cerne is accused of going to Divine Child Church on Aug. 23 and lighting a firework inside the chapel, causing a Bible to burn and damage to the walls, floors and other surfaces.
Cerne is expected to be arraigned Wednesday.
Video shows man throwing firework in chapel
Cerne was arrested Friday after a man was seen on video Wednesday walking into the Divine Child Church and throwing a firework into the chapel while a prayer service was taking place, Dearborn police said.
Police were called to the church around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, where the explosive had burned a Bible, but no parishioners were hurt.
Investigators found a commercial-grade firework in the chapel.
You can see video of the man walking into the church and the firework exploding inside the chapel here:
Witnesses said a white man in his 30s or 40s, with short, dark hair, threw the firework and drove away in a newer-model Cadillac four-door with silver rims. The Cadillac had multiple stickers on the back window and rear bumper, police said.
The man was taken into custody just after 5 p.m. Friday, Dearborn police announced.
The man is believed to be responsible for several similar incidents in Dearborn the last few weeks, police said.
"This assailant terrorized the parishioners inside a house of worship with a total disregard for their safety," Dearborn police Chief Ronald Haddad said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Dearborn police at 313-943-2241 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
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