A 34-year-old Oshawa man is facing numerous charges following a fire at the Canadian Tire store in Ajax.
On Wednesday March 14, 2018, at approximately 8 a.m., officers attended a fire inside a storage area adjacent to the Canadian Tire at Kingston Road and Salem Road in Ajax. The suspect fled the area in a taxi, and after arriving in Scarborough, fled the taxi without paying. He was later located by Toronto Police in a residential backyard in the Meadowvale Avenue and Ellesmere Road area and arrested.
The blaze caused over $500,000 in damages. Several employees were inside getting ready to open the store at the time of the blaze, but no one was injured during the incident.
Paul NICHOLAS, age 34, of no fixed address (Oshawa) is charged with: Arson Causing Damage to Property; Fraudulently Obtain Transportation; Arson with Disregard for Human Life; Break and Enter With Intent – Business; Possess Weapon Dangerous To Public Peace and Possession of Incendiary Material. He was held for a bail hearing.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact D/Cst. Azzano or Det. Hawkes of West Division Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2526/2528.
Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
