A St. Thomas police van. (File photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn News)A St. Thomas police van. (File photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn News)
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Arson charge laid in homeless drop-in centre fire

A 32-year-old man accused of setting a fire behind a St. Thomas homeless drop-in centre earlier this week is now facing an arson charge.

Firefighters were called to the Talbot Street drop-in centre around 6:30 a.m. on Monday after a picnic table located behind the facility was set ablaze. They were able to quickly extinguish the fire.

Security cameras from nearby buildings captured video of a man setting the fire, St. Thomas police said.

Officers arrested a 32-year-old St. Thomas man in connection with the incident Tuesday afternoon. He is now charged with one count of arson.

This is the second time in a week that the drop-in centre has been damaged. Last Monday, a brick was thrown through the building's front window. A 26-year-old St. Thomas man was later charged in that incident with two counts of mischief to property under $5,000, three counts of breaching release conditions, and one count of theft under $5,000.

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