KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Editor's Note: This story was updated to reflect that the police report said the man locked himself in the church's bridal suite during the early morning hours of Christmas Day, not the afternoon.
A man is facing an aggravated arson charge after authorities said he entered a church's bridal suite and set a paper towel dispenser and bench on fire during the early morning of Christmas Day.
According to a police report, Billy Walker, 34, walked into the Church Street United Methodist Church through the unlocked front doors. Katie Strangis, the church's communications director, also said security footage showed the man entered the building during a Christmas Eve service at around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The footage showed him leaving the service, and then returning at around 2:30 a.m. Christmas Day and walking in through the unlocked front doors. The police report said he went downstairs and locked himself in a bridal suite. At around 3:05 a.m. on Monday, authorities said he set the items on fire and the church's fire alarm system turned on.
The alarm notified a custodian who went downstairs and found Walker locked inside the suite. It also notified the Knoxville Fire Department. The custodian said Walker refused to open the door at first but later agreed to open it. The custodian said there was smoke and a smell of something burning inside once Walker opened the door.
When KFD crews arrived, they said the custodian was still inside the building with Walker. He was then taken into custody, according to authorities.