Montgomery County Sheriff Rand Henderson is urging residents to embrace diversity after someone threw a Molotov cocktail into the window of the Buddhist temple in New Caney.
The sheriff’s office is asking the public to help identify a person caught on video before the fire started on Sunday. The person is described as a white or light-skinned male, wearing a dark baseball cap, black boots and carrying a backpack.
The sheriff’s office asked the public to remain calm during the investigation into the fire. The circumstances and motives behind the crime are currently unknown.
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“As a community, we stand united against any act threatening the peace and harmony we cherish,” Henderson said. “We firmly believe in upholding the religious freedoms of our citizens, and we will continue to protect and respect these fundamental rights.”
According to information from the sheriff’s office, around 9:50 p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to the temple in the 17000 Block of FM 1485 about an arson on the building. Deputies learned that a person approached the temple and threw a container full of gasoline and lit wicking material into an open window of the temple. Members of the temple were inside and quickly extinguished the flames before calling police to the scene.
The Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office is responsible for investigating all arsons in Montgomery County, according to law enforcement officials. Fire marshals, along with agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms arrived on the scene and began their investigation.
Miranda Hahs, specialist with the sheriff’s office, said her office and the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office are taking the case seriously.
“Religious freedom and the safety of all the citizens of Montgomery County, regardless of religious affiliation, is something both agencies are sworn to protect,” Hahs stated in a news release. “This type of behavior will not be tolerated in our County. We will continue to aggressively work to bring individuals to justice who threaten those peacefully practicing their religious freedom. We understand that incidents like these can cause anxiety and concern among our residents.”
Anyone with information about this arson is asked to contact 936-760-5800, dial option 3 and refer to case No. 23S000489, or to remain anonymous, contact Multi-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-STOP (7867).
