Detroit pastor catches firebug trying to burn down church

DETROIT (WJBK) - As city's volunteer angels kept an eye out for firebugs last night, one local pastor says he caught a guy trying to burn down his church.

"We're not gonna be in fear. We're not gonna run. I'm gonna continue to fight for this city," said Pastor Maurice Hardwick.

That's the attitude Detroit's Pastor Mo has year-round, not just during holidays like Halloween, when vandals and arsonists try to thrive.

"We committed to neighborhood clean-ups, making sure there are no fires, no break-ins," he said.

Pastor Mo says just after 6 p.m. Monday, while he was out patrolling his own neighborhood near his church on Puritan and Pinehurst and he got a sinking feeling.

He says when he pulled up, there was a blue pick-up truck sitting there. The man had something in his hand like a bottle and hopped in the truck and pulled away.

Pastor Mo followed the truck, but the man was dangerously speeding, weaving and running through intersections. So he got close enough to get a picture of his license plate.

Calling the cops, a Detroit police arrived within minutes and Pastor Mo handed over the photo.

Pastor Mo says he's not just vigilant because of Halloween, but because of what he found just days before.

"Looks like they're trying to make a cocktail or something. I don't know," he said, holding up a bottle he found.

Detroit Police Chief James Craig thanked Pastor Mo for staying aware.

"We can't be on every corner, every minute of every day. It's just not realistic," he said. "Imagine if we could replicate that kind of activity Pastor Mo has in our city - how safe it would be."