SANFORD, Fla. – Sanford police have unveiled bodycam footage from an intense evening in early May when a man reportedly set a Buddhist temple ablaze before engaging police in a high-speed pursuit across several counties.
The incident unfolded on May 2 at the Wat Navaram Buddhist Temple located on Narcissus Avenue in Sanford. Officers responded swiftly to the scene following a distress call about an individual attempting to ignite the temple. The footage captures the moment as officers approached the site, with an alarm blaring in the background, signaling the urgency of the situation.
As officers neared the building, they observed a man clad in a yellow shirt hastily entering a Toyota RAV4. The bodycam video records an officer issuing several commands in an attempt to stop the suspect, including shouting, “Hey! Come here! Sanford Police.” Defiantly, the driver reversed the vehicle and sped off, ignoring the officer’s attempt to gain attention by tapping on the passenger door.
Identified as Singhasouk Danny Phanouvong, a 51-year-old from Atlanta, the suspect led law enforcement on a dramatic chase that concluded on Interstate 95 North in St. Johns County. Phanouvong now faces a slew of charges, including first-degree arson, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, criminal mischief to a religious property, fleeing and eluding law enforcement at high speed, and resisting an officer with violence.
In the video from one officer’s body-worn camera, he can be heard shouting multiple commands. including, ‘Hey! Come here! Sanford Police.” According to the arrest report, the driver placed the vehicle in reverse and began to drive away. The video shows that even after the officer tapped on the front passenger door to get the driver’s attention, the man kept going.
Singhasouk Danny Phanouvong, 51, of Atlanta, was arrested after leading law enforcement on a chase that ended on Interstate 95 North in St. Johns County. He faces charges of first-degree arson, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, criminal mischief to a religious property, fleeing and eluding law enforcement at high speed and resisting an officer with violence.
Security footage obtained by News 6 shows a man pushing things over, grabbing items and kicking them as he walks through the space. According to an attorney for the temple, Joe Panyanougvong of Durham Law Group PC, the entire incident lasted between 45 minutes and an hour.
[WATCH: Video shows man destroying, setting fire to Sanford Buddhist temple]
“There was a person that was a former member of the temple, likely experiencing some type of mental health crisis, and for reasons unknown, came down here and basically severely damaged and vandalized the temple and some of the property outside the temple,” Panyanougvong explained to News 6.
Two weeks after the fire, members of Wat Navaram Buddhist Temple are working to restore what was damaged. On Thursday, our News 6 team went back to visit the site where there are still broken items scattered around and black burn marks on the ceiling.
Despite the damage, the community has found a way to keep gathering. Panyanougvong told News 6 on Thursday that they have purchased two tents and portable air conditioning units to host worship and lunch ceremonies while repairs are ongoing.
Online records show Phanouvong is being held at the jail in Volusia County without bond.
