DETROIT – A man who was arrested in connection with a fire at a Southwest Detroit grocery store is facing a federal charge.
Philip Valente was federally charged with maliciously damaging or destroying commercial property using fire or explosives.
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The E & L Supermercado at W Vernor and Cavalry Street caught fire at around 7:45 a.m. on May 11.
The Detroit Fire Department received a report that shopping carts were on fire outside the supermarket. By the time firefighters arrived, the flames were spreading toward the front of the building.
The fire was put out, and no one was injured.
A criminal complaint was unsealed on May 12, detailing how Valente was tracked and arrested within hours of the fire.
Security footage
An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reviewed security footage from the grocery store and viewed the following:
At 7:34 a.m., a man wearing a gold-colored hooded sweatshirt went to the rows of shopping carts stored at the front of E & L Supermercado under an overhang. He was seen on camera placing something small on top of the tarp covering the cart.
He moved closer to the front door, appeared to pick something up from the ground, and stood with his hands hovering over the carts. He then immediately placed his hands behind his back and walked away.
A small fire was visible on top of the tarp where the man was hovering his hands. A minute and a half later, flaming material began dripping to the ground. A small fire then spread.
By 7:47 a.m., a large fire rapidly extended to the facade of the building under the store’s overhang.
The fire damaged the grocery store’s roof, with smoke spreading into the store -- forcing the business to close.
Nearby business reports encounter with suspect
A security officer at a nearby business from E & L Supermercado flagged down police and said they saw the suspect at their location, who stole a drink after setting the fire.
The criminal complaint said a man went to the nearby business, stole a drink and walked about at around 8:06 a.m. He then returned to the store and argued with the security guard there.
As the security officer escorted the man out of the store, the suspect allegedly pulled a lighter from his pocket but made no explicit threats.
Security footage of that business showed that the man was wearing the same clothing as the suspect who set the fire at the grocery store.
Arrest
Detroit police found Valente a few blocks east of E & L Supermercado and arrested him. Police said he had a green lighter.
The criminal complaint compared the bodycam video of his arrest with the surveillance footage from the grocery store and confirmed that he matched the suspect’s description.
Previous conviction
Valente was previously convicted of arson in Grosse Pointe Woods on Jan. 21, according to court records.