Avon Park Fire Ruled Arson

AVON PARK - Jose Gonzales doesn't know who could have spray painted racial slurs on his house and set fire to his garage and car.

"I can't sleep," he said Monday afternoon. "I don't know who did this."

State Fire Marshal Public Information Officer Kevin Shireman said the fire was intentionally set and a cash reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information.

A Folk-Nation gang sign was sprayed painted on the garage.

"I have nothing to do with gangs," Gonzales said. "I'm an old man."

Gonzales and his son, nephew and girlfriend, live at the house on 92 Gwen Hill St., which is located near Avon Park Middle School.

Avon Park Middle School Principal Dan Johnson walked over to Gonzales' house Monday morning to see what students can see as they walk to school.

"I'm certainly not happy with the wording on the house and stuff for the kids to see and I'm upset that people would write that on people's houses," he said. "I hope they can get that off quickly.

"These days and times you hope you don't ever see stuff like that, but unfortunately there are some people out there with issues that do some bad things about them."

But before he can paint over the offensive graffiti, Gonzales said he was expecting another visit from a fire marshal and has been prodding his insurance company to inspect his home as soon as possible.

Due to the ongoing investigation, Shireman did not reveal how the fire was intentionally set, which was reported at 12:19 a.m. Sunday.

The state agency is still determining whether to rule the fire and racial graffiti as a hate crime.

Avon Park Police Cmdr. Michael Rowan said there are no suspects at this time in the joint investigation by the police department and State Fire Marshal's Office.

After attending a classic car show Saturday night at Old Town in Kissimmee, Gonzales returned home around 10 a.m. Sunday to see the destruction of his garage, mechanic's tools and 1988 Cadillac Coup DeVille.

"I don't know what's going to happen now," he said. "I wish I knew who it was."

Anyone with information about this fire can call the State Fire Marshal Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations at 863-679-4180 or 1-877-662-7766.