ROSEVILLE, Calif. — A man was arrested on suspicion of arson Monday morning in connection with a Roseville homeless shelter fire.
Around 11:15 p.m. Sunday, the Roseville Police Department and Roseville Fire Department responded to a fire at The Gathering Inn along Berkeley Drive near Historic Roseville. The fire was extinguished, and police canvassed the area; the cause was initially suspected to be arson, authorities said.
The scene was held, and a suspect was identified through the evidence at the scene, surveillance footage and witness statements, police said.
Police reportedly arrested 34-year-old Matthew Wallace Brandon Monday morning and booked him into South Placer Jail. Jail records show he faces one arson charge and is ineligible for bail.
No one was at the property when the fire was reported, according to the Roseville Fire Department. The blaze was contained to the second floor of the building, which is an area used by staff and not by guests, and the building’s utilities were shut off, the fire department said.
The Gathering Inn is working with other organizations to provide a temporary location for services after the fire damaged its Roseville facility. Across multiple locations, The Gathering Inn offers services for unsheltered people in Placer County and Elk Grove, according to its website.
"We are making plans for our guests to be served at other locations during the day and to continue regular operations at local churches at night," said Keith Diederich, CEO of The Gathering Inn, in a statement to ABC10.
