BRANDON — A 27-year-old homeless man accused of trying to set more than a dozen government vehicles on fire on Wednesday called himself "Michael the Archangel" and said that he wanted to blow them up because "the generals won't surrender to the Kingdom of God," according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

The man, Michael Gordon, was arrested Wednesday on charges of attempted arson and criminal mischief.

The arson attempt was reported at about 7 a.m. at a military recruitment center near the 760 block of W Brandon Boulevard, off S Kings Avenue.

There were 17 vehicles total involved. One was a civilian vehicle and the other 16 were the property of the Air Force, Army, National Guard, Navy and Marines, according to the Sheriff's Office.

They were all found with their fuel doors pried open and rags stuck down into the gas tanks, deputies said. However, they were not ignited.

During the investigation, deputies said Gordon returned to the scene. He admitted that he was carrying two lighters and lighter fluid, according to the Sheriff's Office. He was then arrested. He has no prior criminal record in Hillsborough County, deputies said, and did not appear to have a home address.

Deputies said it does not appear that Gordon is connected to another arson investigation on Wednesday in Tampa: Several vehicles were set on fire in the lot at Larsen's Towing, 4608 N Lois Ave.

The fire was brought under control by 2:34 a.m. and nine vehicles total were damaged. Investigators are looking for someone caught on video surveillance near the lot just before the fire. But the Sheriff's Office said Gordon is homeless and was on foot. It is unlikely he could have been in Tampa at the time of that fire.

He was booked into the county jail, but his bail amount was not available.