What began as a bar tab dispute worth less than a dollar nearly turned deadly in Old Town Saginaw.
Around 2:00 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 19th at closing time at Steamers Riverfront Pub on N. Hamilton Street, police were dispatched after reports of gunfire. Bar staff told dispatchers they had confronted a male patron about 50 cents. That patron allegedly pulled out a handgun, aimed it at an employee’s head, and pulled the trigger twice. Prosecutors say one round missed the worker by mere inches.
The suspect fled with a woman before officers arrived, but not before witnesses provided police with a description. Investigators say the woman dropped personal items with names and addresses, helping officers quickly track down the pair.
Police arrested 24-year-old Anthony E. Williams. Officers say they recovered a 9mm handgun beneath the vehicle Williams had been in and a spent shell casing nearby.
Williams was arraigned Monday, Sept. 22nd, before Saginaw County District Judge David D. Hoffman. He faces:
• Assault with Intent to Murder (life maximum)
• Felony Firearm (mandatory 2-year minimum, served consecutive to any other sentence)
Williams remains in custody on a $250,000 bond. His next court appearance, a preliminary examination, is set for Oct. 9.
