LITTLE CURRENT–Following a bail court hearing in Gore Bay on Monday, August 11, the Manitoulin Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced that Clinton Gordon Haggart, age 30, has been charged with seven counts of arson in relation to the recent fires in Little Current.
While there have been five fires related to Mr. Haggart directly, police have not yet released an explanation for the other two charges, but with multiple buildings having been damaged in at least two of the fires, charges may have stemmed from the subsequent destruction.
The Manitoulin OPP, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch and Detective Inspector Colleen McCormick, continues to investigate a series of fires which have occurred in Little Current in recent months, with the latest being on Thursday, August 7. Shortly before 7 pm, officers responded to a fire on Campbell Street West in Little Current in the storage shed belonging to JR Renton of Little Current, formerly the old Little Current curling rink. NEMI Fire Department was already on scene when police arrived. The fire subsequently spread to the neighbouring building, the former Community of Christ Church turned martial arts training centre. Residents in the surrounding area were evacuated and no injuries were sustained.
Both buildings were completely destroyed by fire and as a result, investigators from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office were called in to assist NEMI Fire Department and OPP in their investigation.
On Sunday, August 10, OPP arrested Mr. Haggart and charged him with seven counts of arson contrary to the Criminal Code. He appeared in bail court in Gore Bay on Monday, August 11.
Police are continuing their investigation and are seeking the public’s assistance. Anyone with information should call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
See this week’s Expositor and manitoulin.ca for full and complete coverage of this most recent fire and reaction from the community.
