A 49-year-old Monroe man has been arrested in connection with a fire that damaged a historic Black church last month, authorities confirmed yesterday.
Nicky L. “Catfish” Coleman was taken into custody on April 8, 2025, and charged with simple arson of a religious building. The arrest stems from a March 30 fire at Saint Mary’s No. 2 Missionary Baptist Church on Williams Street in Monroe.
The Monroe Fire Department responded to the blaze at the unoccupied church, and no injuries were reported. However, the historic structure sustained significant damage, according to officials.
“It’s not a good idea to go against God’s people,” Pastor John Sewell had stated in the aftermath of the fire. Church leadership had suspected the fire was deliberately set, prompting an investigation by local authorities.
Coleman was arrested on an outstanding warrant. This isn’t his first encounter with law enforcement – records show he was previously arrested in September 2023 on outstanding warrants for possession of illegal drugs and simple damage to property.
