More charges for accused serial arsonist

Winnipeg police have filed additional charges against a man accused of more than a dozen arsons as part of an ongoing major crimes unit investigation.

Investigators say 35-year-old Jesse Wheatland has now been linked to three more incidents between August and November: a suspicious fire in the 100 block of Disraeli Freeway on Aug. 19, and fires in the 900 block of Corydon Avenue and the 1000 block of Nairn Avenue on Nov. 2 and 3, respectively.

Police previously alleged Wheatland committed 22 arson, break-in, and property-damage offences at 11 locations since June 11, including fires at the constituency offices of Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine and her colleague Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith, as well as downtown bars and restaurants.

Police say search warrants were also executed at a residence in the 200 block of St. Mary’s Road and a storage unit in the 300 block of Higgins Avenue, where evidence connected to the investigation was seized.

On Tuesday, investigators rearrested Wheatland at Milner Ridge Correctional Centre. He now faces three additional counts of arson, two counts of possessing incendiary materials and two counts of intimidation.

Wheatland was previously charged with 13 counts of arson causing property damage, two counts of break-and-enter and commit arson, one count of arson with disregard for human life, four counts of mischief under $5,000 and two counts of break-and-enter with intent.

He remains in custody.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca