Man accused of setting fire at church in North Miami Beach

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A 39-year-old man stands accused of placing a wicker basket on top of a sign and lighting it on fire at a church’s entryway in North Miami Beach, records show.

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Joseph Drew admitted he was recorded on surveillance video on Aug. 10 at the Arch Creek Bible Chapel, at 13740 NE 20 Place, according to police.

Drew, 39, told a detective that he must have “blacked out” because he was “hammered” and addicted to Adderall, a prescription stimulant, according to police.

Police officers arrested Drew shortly before 3:20 p.m. on Saturday at the Valero gas station at 1900 NE 163 St., in North Miami Beach, according to police.

Corrections booked Drew shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, according to inmate records.

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No one was injured, according to police. Drew, who is homeless, faced four charges in two new cases in Miami-Dade County, records show.

In the Aug. 10 case, Drew faced charges of second-degree arson and burglary of an occupied structure, court records show.

In the Saturday case, Drew faced charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, records show.

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Local 10 News Assignment Editor Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.

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