NORMAN PARK — A Norman Park man was being held in Mitchell County on Thursday in connection with a Wednesday fire that heavily damaged a church building this week. Kentrez Gardner, 37, was arrested after an investigation into the Wednesday fire at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Camilla, according to the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance. In addition to that office, the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were involved with the investigation.

Sheriff’s investigators and the Albany Police Department arrested Gardner on Wednesday afternoon in Doughtery County.

“According to investigators, Gardner provided to them a full confession to burglarizing and setting fire to the church,” the Insurance Commissioner’s office said. “Damage is estimated at more than $100,000.”

Gardner was a former member of the church congregation, the agency said.

Gardner was charged with one count each of arson and burglary. No bond hearing had been held as of Thursday afternoon.