Police looking for person of interest in Henderson Highway arson

Winnipeg police are trying to identify a potential suspect in an arson investigation.

Officers on patrol at about 2:15 a.m. on March 25 spotted thick smoke billowing from a vacant and boarded-up building on the 100 block of Henderson Highway, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release, and called for firefighters.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service personnel got the blaze under control just before 3 a.m. and no one was hurt, but major crimes detectives have since identified a woman as possibly connected to the fire.

Police released images from a surveillance camera showing the woman. Police describe her as having a small build with long, dyed red hair. She was wearing mukluks with tassels, a black hoodie or jacket, black-and-grey striped mittens, black pants and glasses, and carrying a small black object, possibly a purse, at the time.

Police have asked anyone with information on her identity, or who may have relevant dash-cam, security or cellphone video from the area at the time, to call major crimes detectives at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.