On Wednesday, Nov. 16, the Hollister Police Department and Hollister Fire Department responded to a possible structure fire in the area 649 San Benito St., where the contents of a recycling dumpster had been set ablaze just north of the Veterans' Memorial Building. Police later located the man believed responsible for the fire and arrested him for arson.
At about 7:53 p.m., police officers and fire crews responded to the area of San Benito and Seventh streets on a report of a possible structure fire, according to an HPD release.
When they arrived, they located a recycling dumpster in the alley to the north of 649 San Benito St. had been set on fire. Hollister Fire Department was able to put the fire out prior to fire spreading to adjacent buildings.
A search of the downtown camera system revealed the entire incident had been recorded, police said. A male subject, Anthony Ray Gonzales, 33, was captured on video entering the dumpster enclosure area and apparently urinating prior to lighting a cigarette. He is then observed lighting an unknown item on fire and then placing it into the dumpster, causing the cardboard and paper items inside to ignite. The male was wearing a camoflauge jacket, jeans, white shoes, and black and tan back pack, according to police.
Officer Michael Paddy recognized the male as Gonzales from prior contacts with him. A short time later, Paddy was able to locate Gonzales in the 500 block of San Benito St. and arrest him on suspicion of arson. Gonzales, who previously was cited and released for slashing American flags in the downtown area on San Benito Street, was booked into the San Benito County Jail.
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