Homeless Man receiving services admits to setting fire to ‘get my revenge’
Those who help others in need going into this holiday season will need the community’s help themselves after a Monday night fire has severely damaged Kissimmee’s local Salvation Army service station.
Ahead of the results of a Kissimmee Fire Department investigation, Salvation Army of Orange and Osceola County Captain Ken Chapman said the fire at the Union Street location, just northwest of downtown Kissimmee, was intentionally set, and that much of what the organization uses to provide support, such as the iconic red kettle bells seen all over at stores this holiday season as part of the Salvation Army’s major fundraising, are “A total loss.”
The City of Kissimmee reported Tuesday that Kissimmee Fire Department units observed “heavy fire” upon responding to the scene just after 7 p.m., and witnesses on-scene notified police officers of a possible suspect.
Officers quickly made contact with Cordearo Lee Mable, 37, who lists the Salvation Army as his permanent address. He admitted to setting the fire, going as far to tell police, “I’m most likely going to jail … you’re gonna have to process me in a second,” according to the arrest affidavit.
Mable has been charged with arson and burglary to an unoccupied structure.
“The individual was a little disruptive (Monday afternoon) and had to be trespassed,” Chapman said. “He told a staff member he was ‘going to burn the place down’ and came back and did that after it was dark.”
According to the report, a woman met Mable earlier in the day at the service center when she was taking a shower there and, “He seemed nice” at the time. She was sitting in her truck Monday evening when she heard an explosion and saw Mable leave the scene and “look at her with a mean look,” and she then called police.
A KPD officer wrote in the report that Mable said, “Over the last few months he has felt that he has been mistreated by the one place in Kissimmee where homeless people can go and feel like ‘humans.’”
A Salvation Army employee had asked Mable to leave Monday morning because “his services were complete.” He became angry and when the employee called police to have him trespassed, he made threats to return and that staff, “Would all burn up … I’m setting the Salvation Army on fire.”
In the report, police said he noted he got a rock from the train tracks and stole a bottle of lighter fluid, and returned Monday night. He smashed in the door window and entered, poured the lighter fluid on walls and in offices, ignited it, and poured more fluid on the way out to make the flames bigger. He then walked across the street, where police made contact with him, and he told him he had been trespassed from the property.
“Arrest me now, or you are going to have to do it later because I will get my revenge,” Mable reportedly told police.
A release from Salvation Army officials said the kettles and the center’s interior, kitchen, food pantry and new industrial washer and dryer were heavily damaged in the fire.
This is the busiest time for service organizations like the Salvation Army, who are usually ramping up this time of year to help those who need help at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Those who wish to help the Salvation Army through this unfortunate time can donate online at this Osceola County-specific link: https://bit.ly/Osceola-Fire.
“We are gathering information on the specific needs and will release more details (later),” Salvation Army Orlando Area Command Special Events and Promotions Director Debi Jones said. “Monetary donations are always helpful and can be made to our Osceola Donation page.”
