City police searching for suspect believed responsible for alleged arsons

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This article was published 26/08/2023 (1129 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg police are searching for a suspect believed to be responsible for a rash of alleged arsons, including one that razed a 102-year-old church in the Elmwood neighbourhood this week.

In a press release Saturday, the Winnipeg Police Service revealed the Iglesia de Dios Pentecostes (Church of God — Pentecost) at 420 Tweed Ave. was targeted twice by an alleged arsonist in just over 24 hours.

The building was found in flames Wednesday around 5 a.m., and though the blaze was contained in less than an hour, the structure partially collapsed and required demolition due to safety concerns.

According to police, the building had burned the previous day around 1:45 a.m. Roughly 25 minutes later, an outdoor shed in 300 block of Harbison Avenue West also caught fire.

Details regarding the initial fire at the church and the outdoor shed were not previously released by WPS or the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.

“The WFPS reported the fires to police and advised the major crime unit, who assumed the investigations as possible arsons. Through their investigation, investigators identified a suspect believed to have deliberately set all three fires,” WPS said.

Police are searching for a white man, around 45- to 55-years-old. He is believed to stand between 5’7 and 5’11 tall, with an average build, balding hair and a full grey and black beard.

Investigators are requesting help from the public to identify the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 204-986-6219, Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477 (TIPS) or file a report online.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca