Man Arrested in Connection with Fire at Casa Grande Hasidic Community Center

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – A man has been arrested in connection with a fire that caused significant damage to the Khal Chasidim Hasidic community center in Casa Grande. The Casa Grande Police Department arrested Everardo Gregorio, 30, on March 5, 2025, after an investigation linked him to the blaze that broke out early on March 3.

At 4:53 a.m. on that day, police and fire services responded to a fire at the community center, located at 913 East 8th Street. The fire caused extensive damage to the building, which had recently been renovated and was serving as a hub for worship and community services, including a Kosher grocery delivery service known as Kosher Palace.

The Casa Grande Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), began investigating the incident. Detectives were able to gather evidence that led them to link Gregorio to the fire. On March 5, Gregorio was located near the center and taken into custody. He has been booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center on charges of arson.

The fire has devastated the local Hasidic community, but congregation members remain resilient. Abraham Breier, a member of Khal Chasidim, expressed optimism in the face of the destruction. He shared that, under the guidance of Rabbi Abraham Rabinowitz, the community is leaning on their faith and focusing on recovery.

“We are accustomed to pain and suffering, and as a community, we have thousands of years of history,” Breier said. “Rabbi Rabinowitz has been very supportive, reminding us that everything is an act of God, and how we deal with it is our choice. We are dealing with it positively, comforting our children and showing them that this is part of life.”

Despite the damage to the building, Breier reported that sacred scrolls and Tefillin were miraculously saved. The center, which had been a former restaurant before being developed by an Orthodox Jewish group from Brooklyn, New York, is a central gathering place for the community.

Though the fire’s cause remains under investigation, Breier expressed his belief that it was not intentionally set and that it was not an act of antisemitism.

“The investigation is still ongoing, but my gut feeling is that this was not arson,” Breier said, noting that he felt reassured by the community’s support and by offers of help from local officials.

Casa Grande Mayor Lisa Navarro Fitzgibbons has reached out to offer her condolences and support to the Hasidic community, stating, “While the road to recovery will be difficult, the resilience of faith and the strength of our community will help guide the way forward.”

Scott McEuen, a representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also reached out, offering a temporary worship space and assistance with cleanup efforts.

As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine the full extent of the fire’s cause and its impact on the community. However, the Casa Grande Hasidic congregation remains determined to rebuild and continue their mission, drawing strength from their faith and community support.