A Bite Squad employee was accused of setting his workplace on fire Tuesday morning.
Joseph Allen Prettyman, 43, of Clay County, was charged with setting the food delivery services’ office building, at 4113 NW 6th St., on fire at about 6 a.m. on Sept. 19, according to a Gainesville Police arrest report
Prettyman worked as a driver for Bite Squad and was one of only four people who had access to the door code to enter the building, the report said.
Security camera footage from the building shows a man with Prettyman's “walk and stature” walking into the office while it was closed, police said. Once inside, the man on camera then stole about 20 Samsung tablets before pouring an unknown liquid onto the walls and floor.
Shortly after the man poured the liquid, the footage shows a flash of fire igniting, according to the report. The blaze increased in size, causing the carpet to burst into flames.
Firefighters from Gainesville Fire Rescue arrived to put out the fire, but found no one inside after searching the building, police said.
There was severe damage to the inside of the BiteSquad building, according to the report. It is unclear whether this will affect BiteSquads delivery.
The Bite Squad manager, who has known Prettyman for several years, watched the footage and identified Prettyman as the man in the video, the report said.
Prettyman told police he was was in the building several times the morning of the fire but denied igniting the flames, according to the report.
Prettyman was charged with arson, burglary of a dwelling and grand theft. He is being held in the Alachua County Jail on a $200,000 bond.
Joseph Prettyman
