By Olivia Hitchcock
The Palm Beach Post
LAKE WORTH, Fla. — A 25-year-old man reportedly set fire to a suburban Lake Worth country club last week and posted videos on Snapchat during the blaze, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office records state.
Anthony Stowers of Lake Worth was arrested late Thursday on an arson charge. A judge ordered he be held in the Palm Beach County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue crews found the Sherbrooke Estates clubhouse fully engulfed in flames early Feb. 11. The blaze caused more than $800,000 in damage, sheriff’s records state.
Stowers reportedly sent Snapchat videos during the fire to multiple high school students, records show.
In the videos, Stowers explains that his father pays rent to the community near the intersection of Lantana and Lyons roads. He was upset the clubhouse hadn’t been maintained, according to the Snapchat videos.
“You know what?” Stowers reportedly said. “Y’all gonna see a structure fire tonight. I hope you all enjoy.”
One teen texted Stowers about the fire. Stowers the teen he “blacked out” and “didn’t even remember doing it,” according to sheriff’s office records.
He told the teen he drank an entire bottle of “Captain,” a brand of rum.
Stowers spoke with officials Thursday and admitted to starting the fire. However he couldn’t remember the details of the fire, including how it started. He told detectives he always carries a lighter in his pocket.
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