Warrant — No. 1:26-mj-00343 (Dkt. 1-1, W.D. Mich.)

Summary

Continuation in Support of Application for Arrest Warrant, ECF No. 1-1 in Case 1:26-mj-00343-SJB in W.D. Mich., filed 08/18/26 and sworn by a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The affiant seeks a criminal complaint for arson within special territorial jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. 81, charged through the General Crimes Act, 18 U.S.C. 1152, over a fire set on August 13, 2026 at about 4:04 A.M. in a housing storage building in Dowagiac, Michigan held by the United States in trust for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Tribal police found the subject nearby, video showed him forcing entry at 4:01 A.M. and leaving a burning box and trash can at an exterior door, a state fire investigator found the cause incendiary, and preliminary estimates put the damage at approximately $200,000.

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 Case 1:26-mj-00343-SJB       ECF No. 1-1, PageID.2       Filed 08/18/26    Page 1 of 4




      CONTINUATION IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATION FOR ARREST
                          WARRANT

I, Zachary Smith, being duly sworn, depose and state as follows:

                                  INTRODUCTION

      1.     I make this Continuation in support of an application for a criminal

complaint against ANTHONY JERMAINE WILLIAMS for arson within special

territorial jurisdiction, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 81 (the “Subject Offense”) under the

General Crimes Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1152.

      2.     I am a Special Agent (SA) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

and have been employed by the FBI since October 2023. I am currently assigned to

the Detroit Field Office, Saint Joseph Resident Agency. During my employment with

the FBI, I have conducted investigations involving violations of federal criminal laws,

including violations related to crimes committed within Indian country. I am familiar

with the various statutes of Title 18, United States Code, Chapter 53 – Indians,

including violations pertaining to the General Crimes Act (18 U.S.C. § 1152).

      3.     The facts and statements contained in this Continuation are based upon

my personal observations, my training and experience, and information obtained

from other law enforcement officers and witnesses. Because this Continuation is

being submitted for the limited purpose of establishing probable cause to secure a

criminal complaint, I have not included each and every fact known to me concerning

this investigation. I have set forth only the facts I believe necessary to establish

probable cause to believe that ANTHONY JERMAINE WILLIAMS committed the

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Subject Offense.

                   FACTS SUPPORTING PROBABLE CAUSE

      4.    On August 13, 2026, at or around 4:04 A.M., a Pokagon Tribal Police

Department (PTPD) officer responded to the area of 27043 Potawatomi Trail,

Dowagiac, Michigan in response to a 911 text alert. While investigating the area,

dispatch advised the PTPD officer that Haas Alarms reported a fire alarm at a nearby

housing storage building located at 57781 Dailey Road, Dowagiac, Michigan. Before

the PTPD officer could check the alarm, a black male ran up to the PTPD officer and

stated that he was being chased. The officer identified this man as ANTHONY J.

WILLIAMS based on medical paperwork that he was carrying in that name.

WILLIAMS was also in possession of a state of Louisiana identification card that

identified him as ANTHONY JERMAINE WILLIAMS.

      5.    While the officer was questioning WILLIAMS, a passerby notified the

PTPD officer of smoke coming from the housing storage building. The PTPD officer

observed smoke and flames coming from the northwest corner of the housing storage

building and requested assistance from the fire department.

      6.    WILLIAMS was sweating profusely and appeared to be either under the

influence of drugs or experiencing a medical issue. EMS arrived on scene and

transported WILLIAMS to Lee Memorial Hospital for further evaluation. The PTPD

officer performed a pat-down search of WILLIAMS to ensure the safety of medical

staff prior to transport and located a yellow Bic lighter in WILLIAMS’s front right


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pocket.

         7.    Video surveillance footage from inside the housing storage building

showed WILLIAMS forcibly enter the building at approximately 4:01 A.M. At

approximately 4:04 A.M., WILLIAMS forced entry into an interior office by kicking

down the door. WILLIAMS went into the office and shut the door behind him.

WILLIAMS then emerged from the office holding what appeared to be a cardboard

box that was on fire and an office trash can. WILLIAMS then placed both items in

front of an exterior door near the northwest corner of the building. WILLIAMS then

appeared to place other items from the building on top of the fire. He poured unknown

substances from bottles found in the building onto the area of the fire. WILLIAMS

left the building at approximately 4:13 A.M with the fire still burning. Nobody else

was seen entering, exiting, or inside of the building during this time.

         8.    A Michigan State Police Fire Investigator responded to the scene and

determined that the origin of the fire was within the structure, near the northwest

service door. The cause of the fire was incendiary.

         9.    The building where the arson occurred was located at 57781 Dailey

Road, Dowagiac, Michigan and is held by the United States in trust for the Pokagon

Band of Potawatomi Indians. The building suffered significant damage and

preliminary estimates the damage at approximately $200,000.

         10.   WILLIAMS is not a member of a federally recognized Native American

tribe.


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                                    CONCLUSION

      11.   Based upon the above information, I respectfully submit there is

probable cause to believe that ANTHONY JERMAINE WILLIAMS committed the

Subject Offense.

      12.   Wherefore, by this Continuation and Application, I respectfully request

that the Court issue a warrant authorizing the arrest of ANTHONY JERMAINE

WILLIAMS.




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