Woman faces arson charges
On Saturday night, emergency crews responded to the report of two trailers on fire near several businesses on Keil Drive in Chatham.
Through investigation, police learned that a box spring and garbage bin were lit on fire behind Bowlerama. Two trailers were also lit on fire behind Value Village and PURE Academy.
Total damage was estimated at $200,000.
With the assistance of video surveillance, police identified the woman responsible.
Last night, a 38-year-old woman of no fixed address was arrested and charged with two counts of arson and failing to comply with her release conditions by being in possession of an incendiary device. She has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Reopening charges
Sunday morning, Chatham-Kent police received more calls to report gatherings at Old Colony Mennonite churches in the municipality.
In one instance, at the Old Colony Mennonite Church on Wheatley Road in Wheatley, when the officer arrived, approximately 128 vehicles were observed in the parking lot with no one inside the church wearing masks.
A 51-year-old Merlin man was charged with failing to comply with a continued 7.0.2 order as per Ontario Regulation 364/20, of the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020.
Also yesterday morning, police responded to the report of a gathering at the Old Colony Mennonite Church on Cundle Line in Charing Cross.
When the officer arrived, approximately 40 vehicles were observed in the parking lot.
More than 100 people left the church with no one wearing masks.
A 37-year-old Merlin man was charged with failing to comply with the same statute of the Reopening act.
Assault in Chatham
On Sunday morning, police responded to a disturbance between a tenant and building manager at an apartment complex on Park Avenue East in Chatham.
A 25-year-old Chatham man was arrested and charged with assault.
