Man charged after gas lines to social-service agencies cut in ‘very dangerous’ targeted attacks

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A Winnipeg man has been charged after the gas lines at four social service agencies were damaged in what police are calling targeted attacks.

Police received seven reports of gas line damage at four community-support organizations (two in the 600 block of Main Street, one in the 100 block of Henry Street and one in the 300 block of Stanley Street) between Feb. 16 and Wednesday.

According to investigators, a suspect cut through chain-link fences and used tools to damage the gas lines.

Justin Ryan Hastings, 30, has been charged with seven counts of mischief endangering life, and single counts of breaking and entering with intent and possession of break-in instruments. He was detained in custody.

Investigators believe Hastings had “previous contact” with the targeted organizations.

“My understanding is that the damage was purposely done,” Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson Const. Dani McKinnon said Friday.

Police have not named the social services impacted.

“I think he did have some struggles, but at the end of the day, he made a poor decision,” McKinnon said. “Poor and very dangerous.”

A spokesperson confirmed Siloam Mission’s Stanley Street drop-in was one of the organizations impacted, but declined to comment further.

Other social services in the blocks listed by police either told the Free Press they were not affected (Lighthouse Mission at 669 Main Street) or declined to comment (Main Street Project’s Main Street location and Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope on Henry Street).

The damage, estimated at about $10,000, has been repaired by Manitoba Hydro.

It’s uncommon for Manitoba Hydro to repair damage in instances involving suspected criminal intent, but compromised gas lines are an exception, and leaving them in that state is not an option, utility spokesperson Bruce Owen said.

“These allegations are quite serious, because natural gas is extremely flammable. Explosive, when it’s concentrated in large amounts. So any type of spark, no matter how small that spark is, could ignite it,” he said.

“So you not only cause the risk of a fire, but if the gas is built up in any way, because of the leak you’ve created, you create the risk of explosion, property damage and more importantly, the damage to life.”

Typically, any gas leaks are reported to the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service, and properties around the area are evacuated immediately. Owen said the incident tied up both WFPS and Hydro resources, but also put those working and accessing help at the front-line social service organizations in danger.

“Not only do you have employees, staff, but you also have customers, or people using the facilities,” he said.

“The risk is serious.”

Hastings has a prior criminal record, including convictions for theft, assault and possession of a dangerous weapon. At a sentencing hearing last May, court was told he struggles with mental illness and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Hastings was sentenced at that hearing to 30 days custody and 18 months supervised probation for a string of minor offences, including one that involved a staff member at Siloam Mission.

Court heard Hastings was homeless when he tried to enter a car belonging to the worker at about 6 a.m. on July 23, 2022, triggering its alarm. Surveillance video at the facility showed Hastings using a piece of concrete to smash one of the vehicle’s windows before fleeing.

Police arrested and released him the following October.

Hastings was arrested again Dec. 10, 2022, moments after he was spotted shoplifting chocolate bars from an Arlington Street 7-Eleven store. He was released under condition he not return to the store, but was re-arrested the following month after he went back and stole a bag of chips and seven packs of gum. He spent a night in custody and was released on conditions he observe a nightly curfew and not possess any weapons.

On May 4, police spotted Hastings near the intersection of Winnipeg Avenue West and Notre Dame Avenue at about 1 a.m. and arrested him for breaching his curfew. Officers found a hatchet while taking him into custody.

“I certainly don’t want to minimize Mr. Hastings’ criminal activity in any way — it’s extremely concerning,” Crown attorney Eric Hachinski told provincial court Judge Brent Stewart at the May 16 sentencing hearing. “In fact, it’s the hallmark of somebody who is out of control in the community.”

Hastings is originally from Gods Lake Narrows and moved to Winnipeg seven years ago following a string of family tragedies, including the deaths of his mother and two brothers, defence lawyer Crystal Antila told court.

Hachinski recommended Stewart sentence Hastings to 3 1/2 months in jail. Antila argued a 30-day sentence would allow him to maintain housing he’d recently secured, along with his social assistance benefits.

“In the community, he has dealt with great instability for the past several years” and now has a social worker and case manager to help him deal with his challenges, she said.

“Rehabilitation shouldn’t be completely written off here,” she said. “Let him keep the stability he has gotten in the community.”

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca