Overview
- At E&L Supermercado in Southwest Detroit, shopping carts under a tarp ignited at around 7:45 a.m. Monday, and flames climbed the store’s front facade.
- Firefighters evacuated employees and knocked down the blaze within minutes, though smoke and water left the grocery closed for repairs.
- An ATF agent reviewing store cameras saw a man in a gold hooded sweatshirt place an item on the cart cover before a small flame appeared and spread to the overhang.
- Detroit police arrested Philip Valente a few blocks away hours after the fire, recovered a green lighter, and matched bodycam footage to the store’s surveillance images.
- Federal prosecutors on Tuesday charged Valente with maliciously damaging commercial property using fire, a count that can carry up to 20 years in prison, and records show a prior arson conviction in January.