Police confident man will face arson charges

PALM BAY, Florida (CNN) -- Authorities said they are confident the probation violator with a lengthy criminal record they arrested will be charged in connection with wildfires that destroyed 22 homes.

"He's cooperating; he's talking about what he did this morning," Palm Bay Police Chief Bill Berger told reporters. "He has provided information that puts him there and has provided information that is key to the investigation."

Brian Crowder, 31, was spotted near a fire that was set about 4:18 a.m. Sunday, Berger said.

Earlier, police said they saw someone throw a glass bottle that apparently held an accelerant that started a fire in woods in the area. Berger said Crowder was spotted in a dark Ford Tempo. Officers said they saw the bottle thrown from a similar vehicle. Watch how suspect was smoked out »

"He is going to jail," Berger said. "I just can't give you the specific charges, [but] I believe there is a good possibility he will be charged with arson."

Crowder was located Wednesday morning after he was seen acting "suspiciously" in the back yard of a home and then ran when police tried to speak to him, according to a statement from the city of Palm Bay.

According to The Associated Press, since 1996, Crowder has been convicted multiple times for burglary, automobile theft and drug crimes. He was charged Wednesday with six probation violations.

Berger said Crowder was treated for bite wounds after a police dog found him hiding in a pile of leaves trying to elude police.

Berger said the majority of Wednesday's questioning was about the most recent fire and that it may take time to find out whether Berger is connected to a series of other suspicious fires that scorched nearly 10,000 acres in Brevard County on the state's central Atlantic coast and destroyed 22 homes. See how fires spread »

The damage comes to more $9 million, officials have said. See photos of the wildfires »

Fifteen displaced people remained in shelters in the county Wednesday and about 4,700 homes were without power, state emergency officials said.

Seven wildfires -- each of them at least 100 acres in size -- were burning Wednesday night in 14 counties, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The fires have scorched 17,000 acres. Watch aerial footage of the fire scorching acres of land »

Gov. Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency Monday.

Dale Armstrong of the Florida Division of Forestry said firefighters were working on four main fires: Osage, at 3,600 acres; Lowery, at 4,800 acres; Madden, at 1,400 acres; and Jupiter, at 190 acres.

Palm Bay City Manager Lee Feldman said the 22 homes are worth a total of $3.5 million.

Lesser damage had been inflicted on 160 homes, other structures and personal property valued at $9.6 million.

All About Wildfires • Florida