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The Fernandina Beach Police Department says John Sallas is not only accused of committing arson at Sliders Seaside Grill, but at other places in the city as well.
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — A man accused of starting a fire at Sliders Seaside Grill in Fernandina Beach in June has been arrested, the Fernandina Beach Police Department announced Tuesday.
The police department says John Sallas is not only accused of committing arson at Sliders Seaside Grill, but at other places in the city as well.
The fire at the popular beachfront restaurant known for its lively atmosphere and ocean views, started around 1 a.m. on June 20.
Surveillance video obtained by First Coast News shows a man breaking in the restaurant through a side door. The restaurant said the suspect set multiple fires inside, including in the employee stairwell and a patio umbrella.
General Manager Cason Zylinski said the fire department responded quickly after the restaurant’s sprinkler system and alarms went off. She added the suspect didn’t seem familiar with his surroundings or where he was going.
“It seems as though he was kind of a fluke incident, maybe a stranger from across the street or maybe someone that’s had too much to drink,” Zylinski said. “It seems as though he was kind of a fluke incident, maybe a stranger from across the street or maybe someone that’s had too much to drink.”
“I can’t believe someone did that to a restaurant that everybody goes to, so it was definitely a shocker,” Fernandina Beach resident Andrew Fenzl previously told First Coast News.
The police department says the investigation into the incident remains active.

