Officers have now charged a male with numerous offences in relation to a fire at a motel in the village of Welcome last Friday
On August 2, 2019 at approximately 8:20 am members from the Northumberland Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a motel on County Road 2 in the village of Welcome after receiving reports of a fire within one of the occupied units.
The male occupant of the room fled through the rear window of the unit and was observed to be wearing body armour and was armed with what appeared to be two hand guns.
Northumberland OPP closed several roads and evacuated nearby businesses and set up containment of the initial area with the assistance from members of the Port Hope Police Service, Central Region OPP Canine Unit and Emergency Response Team (ERT), East Region OPP Tactical Rescue Unit (TRU), Northumberland OPP Crime Unit and the OPP Aviation Unit.
The immediate area was searched and the male suspect was located just west of the motel in a wooded area. Both firearms were seized upon his arrest and he was transported to a local area hospital for minor injuries sustained during his arrest.
The investigation by the Northumberland OPP Crime Unit with the assistance from the Central Region Forensic Identification Services (FIS) has now led to the male being charged with several criminal code offences.
Charged is 47 year-old Miles BARTON of East York, he is facing charges of:
Arson – Damage to Property
Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm/Ammunition
Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
Carry Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited Device or Ammunition in a Careless Manner
Possession of Imitation Weapon for Dangerous Purpose
Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm
Fail to Comply With Probation Order (2 counts)
He was held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg on August 6th 2019.
VIDEO – Breaking News – Male Suspect In Custody Following Fire At Port Hope Motel