NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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On April 21, 2023, at 6:09 a.m. 1 District - St. Catharines uniform officers from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) responded to a report of building on fire in the City of St. Catharines.
Officers arrived on scene on Scott Street between Forester Street and Bonavem Drive. The building was a former church that was in the process of demolition. When emergency crews arrived it was fully engulfed by fire. Officers received information that a person was seen running from the scene. A search of the area by officers lead them stop and investigate a person found walking nearby. The person was arrested in relation to the fire.
Martin Munoz (42 yrs.) of St. Catharines has been arrested and charged with the Criminal Code offence of:
- obstruct peace officer
Munoz has been released from police custody on a Form 10 Undertaking with a future court date.
1 District detectives have been assigned to the investigation to determine the cause of the suspicious fire, their investigation is ongoing. They are being assisted by detectives from the NRPS Forensic Services Unit.
Anyone who may have information about this fire is asked to contact detectives by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009367, reference NRPS incident 23-40119.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
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