NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A 39-year-old man stands accused of placing a wicker basket on top of a sign and lighting it on fire at a church’s entryway in North Miami Beach, records show.
Joseph Drew admitted he was recorded on surveillance video on Aug. 10 at the Arch Creek Bible Chapel, at 13740 NE 20 Place, according to police.
Drew, 39, told a detective that he must have “blacked out” because he was “hammered” and addicted to Adderall, a prescription stimulant, according to police.
Police officers arrested Drew shortly before 3:20 p.m. on Saturday at the Valero gas station at 1900 NE 163 St., in North Miami Beach, according to police.
Corrections booked Drew shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, according to inmate records.
No one was injured, according to police. Drew, who is homeless, faced four charges in two new cases in Miami-Dade County, records show.
In the Aug. 10 case, Drew faced charges of second-degree arson and burglary of an occupied structure, court records show.
In the Saturday case, Drew faced charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, records show.
Local 10 News Assignment Editor Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
