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A 35-year-old man has been arrested after police say he was responsible for multiple arsons in Winnipeg, including fires at the constituency office of two Manitoba cabinet ministers and several restaurants.
Jesse Robert Shawn Wheatland is facing several charges in connection with the incidents, city police said at a news conference Wednesday.
Wheatland is accused in a total of 22 offences between June 11 and this week, including fires at the constituency offices of Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine and Homelessness and Addictions Minister Bernadette Smith, as well as fires at the Winnipeg School Division administration building on Wall Street and a provincial treatment centre on Magnus Avenue.
He was arrested Tuesday evening in the 100 block of Magnus Avenue, where the treatment centre is located, police said.
Wheatland has also been charged in connection with fires at the Exchange Event centre and six other businesses in the Exchange District and downtown areas: Commonwealth Kitchen and Bar, Johnny G’s, the Palomino Club, Boujee Restaurant, La Roca and Tipsy Cow.
He has been charged with 13 counts of arson causing damage to property and one count of arson with disregard for human life.
Smoke pours out of Boujee Restaurant & Bar early on Main Street in Winnipeg on the morning of Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Meaghan Ketcheson/CBC)
He’s also facing two counts of breaking and entering to commit arson, and two counts of breaking and entering with intent, along with four counts of mischief under $5,000.
Police said they believe Wheatland acted alone. The case is not believed to be related to previously reported extortion incidents, according to police.
More to come