Captain Cook Man Charged in Church Arson

A 52-year-old Captain Cook man has been charged with arson following a suspicious fire reported on Thursday morning (Feb. 26) at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Captain Cook.

Detectives charged Richard Paul Read with one count of first degree arson on Wednesday, Mar. 4, at 2:00 p.m.

On the morning of Feb. 26, Kona Police responded to a fire reported at the Kona church.  Upon arrival, firefighters were already on the scene and the north rear entrance of the church was fully engulfed in flames.  Firefighters extinguished the blaze and determined that it had been deliberately set.  Damages were estimated at over $80,000.

Read’s bail has been set at $15,000.  He is currently being held at the Kona cellblock pending an initial court appearance scheduled for Thursday, Mar. 5.