The 32-year-old Vallejo man arrested two months ago on felony warrants and on suspicion of arson in connection with a morning fire that damaged two Vallejo businesses faces a mental health placement report in the coming weeks at the Solano County Superior Court.
Criminal proceedings were stayed for Xavier H. Williams, whose proceeding previously scheduled for Friday in Department 23 was vacated by Judge John B. Ellis, who set the briefing proceeding for 8:30 a.m. on August 5 in the Fairfield Justice Center.
Williams is charged with the May 17 fire that damaged Anchor Pantry and also damaged Joint, a neighboring retail store, in downtown Vallejo.
In pleading not guilty at jail arraignment, Williams is represented by the Solano County Public Defender. He remains in custody, with bond set at $75,000, at the Stanton Correctional Center in Fairfield.
In addition to felony arson, Williams faces several other warrant-based felonies, including carrying a loaded firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and vandalism. He also faces a dozen warrant-based misdemeanors, charges ranging from contempt of court to possession of a controlled substance and petty theft.
As previously reported in the Vallejo Times-Herald, Vallejo public safety officials reported a dispatch call at 3:26 a.m. indicating that Anchor Pantry, a gourmet grocery store at 617 Marin St., was on fire.
Investigators allege that Williams lit the fire there. A short time later, he was found nearby in the 400 block of Santa Clara Street, where he was arrested on warrants and arson, also a felony.
Vallejo Fire Department spokesman and firefighter Aaron Klauber said Anchor Pantry owners noticed they had an alarm and video of a man in the front of the store trying to start a fire. Firefighters were the first to arrive at the scene and tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher to control the flames, but to no avail, according to Klauber.
The fire went to a second alarm and the flames were out within 14 minutes. The second alarm was due to neighboring multi-story buildings, according to Klauber. No injuries were reported, but Anchor Pantry suffered damage to most of its first floor, while The Joint, a retail store offering vintage and modern handmade goods, was given a red tag, meaning it’s considered unsafe for occupy.
Alibi Bookshop co-owner Karen Finlay started two GoFundMe pages shortly after the fire was put out. The Alibi Bookstore is across the street from the Anchor Pantry and The Joint.
The fundraising page for the Anchor Pantry is www.gofundme.com/f/help-jessica-and-frank-rebuild-anchor-pantry.
A separate page was made for the Joint, owned by Stephanie Brown, at www.gofundme.com/f/help-stephanie-rebuild-the-joint-vallejo.
