Arson Suspect in Phoenix LGBT Center Apprehended

The 26-year-old man was a former client of the one.n.ten youth center.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

July 30 2017 10:59 AM EST

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A 26-year-old man is in police custody for allegedly dousing an LGBT youth center in Phoenix with an accelerant and lighting it on fire earlier this month.

Darren William Beach Jr. was arrested "without incident" according to AZ Central. Beach is a former client of the one.n.ten center, which offers services to queer and questioning youth, aged 14 to 24. Few details about Beach are available, but one.n.ten director Linda Elliott previously emphasized that many of their clients have endured abandonment and abuse.

"Many of the youth we encounter have been kicked out of their homes because they're gay," she said. "They've been on the street, they have been abused, beat up, sex trafficked. So there's a lot of issues."

The July 12 fire at the youth center didn't cause any injuries, but equipment and materials were damaged. The center is seeking donations to cover the costs from the crime.