London police headquarters on Dundas St. file photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn NewsLondon police headquarters on Dundas St. file photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn News
London

Double stabbing suspect now charged with arson

A 20-year-old London man already facing charges in connection with a pair of unprovoked stabbings last month is now accused of setting fire to a garage in Old North.

Emergency crews were called to a home on Cheapside Street near St. George Street after the detached garage went up in flames around 8:20 p.m. on October 25.

While firefighters were able to extinguish the fire relatively quickly, the damage was pegged at $80,000.

On Friday, London police announced charges against Brandon Haine of London. The 20-year-old man is charged with arson with disregard for human life and break and enter to commit arson.

Haine was previously charged with two counts of aggravated assault, theft of a motor vehicle, break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, theft under $5,000, and assaulting a police officer. Those charges stem from two separate stabbing incidents earlier on the same night as the garage fire.

A man was inside a business in the area of Adelaide Street North and Huron Street around 6:20 p.m. when he was approached and stabbed by an unknown man. The suspect ran from the scene.

Fifteen minutes later, a man walked into a home in the area of Belfield Street and Norwood Avenue and stabbed the male resident inside. The man then took off, heading north from the home.

In both cases, the men who were stabbed suffered minor injuries.

Shortly after 7 p.m., an unidentified man tried unsuccessfully to steal a vehicle from a parking lot at Adelaide Street North and Huron Street. He ended up running from the area.

Haines was arrested the following day. It is alleged he punched a London police officer in the face while being transferred to the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre. The officer was treated for minor injuries.

Haines is scheduled to appear in London court in relation to the latest charges on November 14.

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