CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -
Two of the three people arrested in
connection with the arson at a southwest Charlotte Goodwill store appeared in
court Monday.
Former employee Brittany Williams
and two other suspects, Harry Brown and Terrance Chandler, are facing federal
charges.
Williams and Chandler appeared in
federal court Monday. Williams pleaded not guilty and waived a detention
hearing. She will remain behind bars for the time being.
Chandler also pleaded not guilty. He
was released on bond.
There is no word yet about a hearing
for Brown.
You may remember, the store on South
Boulevard went up in flames in February. Within weeks, former employee Williams
was blamed for setting the two-alarm fire.
Investigators say surveillance video
from the Goodwill store and neighboring businesses show a two-tone, older model
vehicle pull into the parking lot next door. In that video, investigators say Williams
used a car jack to break the glass on the door, and enter the Goodwill store.
Arson investigators say an "ignitable
liquid" was poured throughout the store. The warrant states the arsonist
dropped a box of wood stick matches as they ran away.
A warrant states police questioned
Goodwill employees. Workers talked about Brittany Williams, who was fired the
day before the fire. The Loss Prevention Supervisor told investigators Williams
was extremely angry she was fired.
Goodwill employees also described
Williams' vehicle as similar to the one seen in the surveillance video, just
before the fire.
Officers went to Williams' home on
Southwood Oaks Lane. According to a warrant, officers searched the vehicle and found
stick matches on the driver side floor board, consistent with matches found at
the fire.
The warrant states officers also
found an envelope with three wooden matches, a metal lighter in the glove box,
and a car jack in the trunk.
Goodwill Industries of the Southern
Piedmont released a statement saying, "We are grateful for the due diligence of
each individual who has been working on the case. While the responsible parties
must be held accountable for this crime, it is hard to comprehend why anyone
would set out to harm our organization, which has worked for almost 50 years to
help people in our community."
The Goodwill store reopened
September 22.
Copyright 2012 WBTV. All rights reserved.
Brittany Williams
Harry Brown
Terrance Chandler
