Man held in Christmas Day arson, other crimes has message of morality
RENO -- A Christmas Day fire that heavily damaged the Verdi post office was one in a string of crimes over the holiday committed by the same man, police said Tuesday. The suspect said he chose Christmas to act because it would incite the public to pay attention to his message of religious morality.
Justin Michael Bennett, 36, was arrested Monday night after authorities responded to a call of shots fired on East Fourth Street. Officers saw Bennett fleeing the scene and pulled him over. Police said Bennett had a handgun but was cooperative with officers.
He was booked into the Washoe County Jail on charges of burglary, shooting into an occupied dwelling, assault with a deadly weapon and arson.
In a jailhouse interview, Bennett told the Reno Gazette-Journal: "I'm sorry, I feel guilty. ... I have no regrets. It had to be done. God has forgiven me already. ... If I caused sorrow or pain, I apologize for that."
Authorities said the crime spree began just before midnight Saturday, when shots were fired at the Sparks Police Department. Early Christmas morning, Washoe County deputies were called to Verdi, west of Reno, on a report of shots fired and a fire at the post office.
On Christmas night, the suspect turned his attention to Reno-area strip clubs, authorities said. Around 11 p.m., he left a threatening note and ammunition with an employee at the Wild Orchid on South Virginia Street before running off.
About 15 minutes later, someone shot into the parking lot of Fantasy Girls, striking seven unoccupied vehicles. About a half-hour later, police said, the suspect broke into the Spice House on Spokane Street, where he set fires and shot bullets inside the closed business.
Bennett said he targeted strip clubs and motels because "people should be home with their families on Christmas and at church, not at the strip clubs," and he wanted motel managers to know he doesn't approve of drug and prostitution activity he said goes on there.
