STURGEON BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) — Police made an arrest Thursday in connection to the devastating fire that killed two people and destroyed a Sturgeon Bay bar.
57-year-old Anthony Gonzalez made his first appearance in court Friday.
Sturgeon Bay Police said Friday that 57-year-old Anthony Gonzalez was arrested for two counts of Second Degree Reckless Homicide and seven counts of Second Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety in connection to the fire that destroyed Butch's Bar early Tuesday morning. pic.twitter.com/StXMDJvDYz
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Sturgeon Bay Police said Gonzalez was arrested for two counts of second degree reckless homicide and five counts of second degree reckless endangering safety.
"Well what about my job?" the suspect stated during his court appearance. "I'm gonna lose my job sitting in jail."
Gonzalez was a resident above Butch's Bar.
"I agree with the state that a significant cash bond is warranted," Door County Branch 1 Judge D. Todd Ehlers said. "In this matter, I will set one in the amount of $250,000."
Seven people were in the building, which had apartments on the second floor, according to police. Two victims died and another is at a Milwaukee burn center receiving treatment.
"On the south side of the building, [a sergeant] could hear screams," Door County District Attorney Colleen Nordin said. "He observed a male hanging out of the second-floor window on the west end of the south wall of the building."
Gonzalez told police he spilled lighter fluid on his bed, and the lighter then sparked a fire.
"It all ignited," Nordin said, reciting an interview with Gonzalez. "It was enough fluid to start a quarter of the bed on fire. I ran and grabbed a fire extinguisher, thought I blasted it out. But something else was burning and it was too hot for me to stay in the room."
According to the D.A., Gonzalez says he was trying to smoke a cigarette.
"Gonzalez stated 'yeah we all smoked,'" Nordin said. "'Everybody smoked upstairs. There's been fires there before. We all know that place is a fire trap but we just try to be more careful.'"
Before the incident occurred on Tuesday, Gonzalez was previously out on bond for bail jumping, disorderly conduct, and use of a dangerous weapon among other charges.
"I [Gonzalez] was just lazy and I did it right on the corner of my bed like an idiot," Nordin said. "Gonzalez denied being under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances at the time the fire started."
His regular initial appearance is scheduled for Monday morning.
During Friday's court appearance, Gonzalez stated he could post $2,000 of the $250,000 cash bond he's faced with.
