NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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On June 3, 2022 at approximately 2 a.m., 1 District (St. Catharines / Thorold) uniform officers from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) responded to reports of multiple fires in garbage bins in the downtown area of St. Catharines.
Officers and personnel from the St. Catharines Fire Service attended to garbage bins and dumpsters on fire on King Street, Centre Street, Queenston Street, Niagara Street, and Davidson Street. The fires were extinguished without injury or significant damage to near by structures.
Investigating officers in the area of Queenston Street near Geneva Street observed a man holding a lighter and a butane torch. When questioned, the man took off on a bicycle and after a brief foot pursuit, officers arrested the man at 2:20 a.m.
Tyler McKelvey (21 years) of St. Catharines has been arrested and charged with the criminal offences of:
• Arson - damage to property – Sec. 434 CC (five counts)
McKelvey was held in custody for a video bail hearing to be held June 3, 2022 at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines.
1 District detectives are also investigating three dumpster fires that occurred in the early morning hours of June 2, 2022 in St. Catharines. Two of which occurred on Ontario Street near Scott Street and one on St. Paul Street. No one was injured from these fires.
Anyone with information about the recent fires is asked to contact detectives at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009504.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222- TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
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