Early Wednesday morning around 12:30 AM, November 13, 2019, a fire alarm went off at the Hilton Home 2 Suites hotel located at 2246 Sadler Road Fernandina Beach. When Fernandina Beach Fire/Rescue personnel arrived they observed windows had been broken out and called for law enforcement to respond. When NCSO deputies arrived they discovered a brick had been thrown through a glass door and extensive damage inside the new hotel, which was scheduled to open soon.
It was discovered that a fire extinguisher with white powder had been expelled throughout the building and shoe prints on the powdered covered floor and blood was found on some items that were damaged.
There was enormous amounts of damage inside the hotel primarily on the 3rd and 4th floor with damage from fire extinguishers, televisions broken from their stands, shattered shower glass doors, shattered microwave ovens, mirrors and numerous other broken windows throughout the building. Mattresses, refrigerators, lamps, tables and chairs were thrown through some of the broken windows. A total of 33 rooms including the lobby area sustained damage. Hotel representatives estimated the damage to be between $300,000.00 and $500,000.00.
One of the suspects was detained by the Fernandina Beach Police Department after being observed riding a bicycle without lights near the Sadler Road and South Fletcher roundabout. After further investigation two suspects were arrested by the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Nassau County Jail.
Rafael De Jesus Charriez, age 21 from Fernandina Beach, was arrested for Burglary with damage exceeding $1,000, Possession of burglary tools, and Prevent Extinguish Fire Equipment.
Sage Theodore Chrzanoski, age 20 from Fernandina Beach, was arrested for Burglary with damage exceeding $1,000, Possession of burglary tools, and Preventing Extinguishment of Fire by Interfering with Equipment.
