A 35-year-old individual has been taken into custody by authorities for allegedly committing numerous arsons in Winnipeg. The incidents included fires at the constituency offices of two Manitoba cabinet ministers and multiple eateries. Identified as Jesse Robert Shawn Wheatland, he is now facing a total of 22 charges related to arson, break-ins, and property damage at 11 different locations spanning from June 11 to the day of his arrest.
Among the places targeted were the constituency offices of Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine and Homelessness and Addictions Minister Bernadette Smith, as well as the Winnipeg School Division administration building and a provincial treatment center. Wheatland has also been implicated in offenses at the Exchange Event center and six other businesses in areas like the Exchange District and downtown Winnipeg.
According to law enforcement officials, Wheatland is accused of arson, break-ins, and causing property damage at various locations. He was apprehended in the vicinity of the treatment center on Magnus Avenue, where he allegedly set a fire shortly before being taken into custody. The investigation, which culminated in Wheatland’s arrest, was described as taxing on both police officers and Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service investigators.
Wheatland faces a range of charges, including arson causing damage to property, arson with disregard for human life, breaking and entering to commit arson, breaking and entering with intent, and mischief under $5,000. Police believe he acted alone in these incidents and that they are not connected to previous extortion cases.
Regarding the impact on affected businesses, some locations were hit multiple times by arson attacks. Business owners expressed relief upon learning of Wheatland’s arrest, with one co-owner mentioning the challenges of rebuilding and waiting on insurance claims. The arrest brought a sense of security to the industry, according to a restaurant owner who is also part of an association with over 350 members.
Ministers Fontaine and Smith, whose offices were targeted, shared their feelings of relief following Wheatland’s arrest. The incidents, which caused significant damage to their offices, led to safety concerns and disrupted work arrangements for their staff. While authorities refrained from discussing motives, Fontaine hinted that the attacks on their offices might have had political motivations, especially in light of the pandemic altering safety perceptions for elected officials.