Printed Jan 27, 2025 • Final up to date 3 hours in the past • 3 minute learn
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Two Norfolk males every face 11 counts of arson in reference to a collection of suspicious fires in and across the county during the last three months.
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The arrests got here after a hearth in a vacant barn on Lynn Valley Highway, east of Freeway 6 in Haldimand County on Sunday evening.
Officers from Norfolk and Haldimand OPP, the OPP crime unit, members of the West Area OPP Emergency Response Group and the Haldimand County Fireplace Division responded to fireplace at about 10:30 p.m.
Police say no accidents had been reported.
About 10 minutes later, officers stopped a pickup truck on Concession 12 Townsend in Norfolk County. Police say it matched the outline of a automobile seen close to a suspicious fireplace in Norfolk in November.
The motive force and passenger of the truck had been arrested.
Police allege the suspects “were involved in multiple similar incidents throughout Norfolk County between November 2024 and January 2025,” mentioned a information launch issued by Norfolk OPP on Monday.
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“Through investigative excellence and community partnership, we’ve held those responsible accountable, ensuring justice and restoring community trust,” mentioned Norfolk OPP Insp. Andy Tait, the detachment commander.
Matthew Smith, 30, of Norfolk County, has been charged with 11 counts of arson — injury to property and fail to adjust to probation order.
Chad Reimer, 43, of Norfolk County, is charged with 11 counts of arson — injury to property; and operation whereas impaired.
The accused are in custody and scheduled to look for a bail listening to on the Ontario Courtroom of Justice in Simcoe on Monday.
Final week, Tait confirmed to members of Norfolk’s Police Providers Board that police arrange a joint activity power to deal with the spike in arsons.
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Police have been investigating 13 totally different incidents of arson in Norfolk since late October, with 4 suspicious fires final week alone. Among the incidents have seen a number of buildings catch fireplace. Sunday’s was in neighbouring Haldimand County.
5 deserted homes and 12 empty barns or outbuildings in sparsely populated rural areas had been targetted, although a working gasoline station was torched in a single day on Jan. 21 and the flames unfold to an hooked up occupied dwelling. Everybody inside escaped safely.
“These fires are very, very concerning to anybody,” mentioned Tait on the assembly. “Someone might say, well, it’s property damage. Yes, but you’re putting live human beings in a position to respond and deal with these fires, and you’re putting them at risk. That really makes me extremely concerned.”
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Police didn’t establish the particular properties associated to the fees the 2 males face.
Suspicious fires underneath investigation embrace:
Oct. 29, about 11:30 pm – Turkey Level RoadNov. 12, 2024, about 10:38 p.m. on Windham East Quarter Line Highway, Simcoe.Nov. 13, 2024, about 1:03 a.m. on Windham Highway 13, Simcoe.Nov. 26, 2024. about 10:19 p.m. on Fourteenth Avenue West, Simcoe.Nov. 27, 2024, about 12:03 a.m. on tenth Concession Highway, LangtonDec. 11, 2024, about 4:09 a.m. on Freeway 24 close to Concession 11 Townsend.Dec. 19, 2024, about 11:40 p.m. on Concession 10 Townsend, Waterford.Dec. 27, 2024, about 12:33 a.m. on St. John’s Highway West, Simcoe.Jan. 6, 2025, about 3:29 a.m. on Windham Highway 11, Delhi.Jan. 19, 2025 simply earlier than 10 p.m. on First Concession Highway, Port RowanJan. 21, 2025, about 11:40 p.m. close to Concession 6 Townsend and Angling Highway/Jan. 22, 2025 simply after midnight, gasoline station on Freeway 24.Jan. 22, 2025, about 2:20 a.m. Brantford Highway at Teeterville Highway.
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The Norfolk County OPP Crime Unit urges anybody with details about this incident or beforehand reported incidents to contact the Norfolk County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Residents on this or every other affected areas are additionally inspired to overview their dwelling surveillance programs for any footage that might support within the investigations.
To stay nameless, name Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go away an nameless tip at helpsolvecrime.com the place you could be eligible to obtain a money reward of as much as $2,000.
— With recordsdata from J.P. Antonacci, Native Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ontario Chronicle. The initiative is funded by the Authorities of Canada.
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