(COUNTY OF WELLINGTON, ON) -Members of the Wellington County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) along with fire services throughout the County of Wellington have been responding to suspicious fires since September of 2016. Most of these fires were to abandoned rural homes and buildings in the southern portion of Wellington County.
As the result of a comprehensive investigation into these fires Wellington County OPP with assistance from the Wellington County Crime Unit, West Region Criminal Operations, OPP Forensic Identification Services, and Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office arrested and charged 28-year-old Justin Nicholas Johnathon BEAL of Guelph-Eramosa Township. He was initially arrested and charged with six counts of Arson contrary to the Criminal Code. He was released on bail from Guelph Court on 30 October 2017.
On January 2, 2018 Justin BEAL was charged with a seventh count of Arson in relation to a suspicious fire which occurred at 7070 Fife Road, Township of Guelph-Eramosa on December 5, 2016.
Wellington County OPP and West Region Criminal Operations are continuing with this investigation.
Anyone with any information about these arsons or any other suspicious fire is urged to contact Detective Heidi Pautsch or Detective Mark Allen at 519 846-5930, or contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers
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