A man aged 35 has been apprehended after authorities allege he was behind a series of arson incidents in Winnipeg, which included fires at the constituency offices of two Manitoba cabinet ministers as well as various restaurants.
Jesse Robert Shawn Wheatland faces a total of 22 charges concerning arson, break-ins, and property damage across 11 different sites from June 11 up until his arrest on Tuesday, as stated by police during a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Among these incidents are the fires at the constituency offices of Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine and Homelessness and Addictions Minister Bernadette Smith.
He has also been charged with offenses at the Winnipeg School Division administration building located on Wall Street and a provincial treatment facility situated on Magnus Avenue.
Wheatland is further implicated in offenses at the Exchange Event Centre and six additional businesses found in the Exchange District and downtown area: Commonwealth Kitchen & Bar, Johnny G’s, the Palomino Club, Boujee Restaurant, La Roca, and Tipsy Cow.
According to police, certain locations suffered damage due to arson, while in other instances, Wheatland is accused of breaking and entering or vandalizing the properties.
He was taken into custody on Tuesday evening in the 100 block of Magnus Avenue, the same area as the treatment center. Police allege he ignited a fire there shortly before his arrest, though he was not detained at the fire scene.
Insp. Jennifer McKinnon mentioned during the news conference on Wednesday that the thorough investigation has had a significant impact on both police officers and investigators from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.
Winnipeg police hold a news conference on the arrest of a man charged with a number of arsons in the city.
“The longer it goes, the more weighs on them. So coming to a conclusion, I think, is exciting, but also a relief,” she noted.
“It’s also not lost on us that we believe this will provide the community with a sense of relief from what they might have been feeling and experiencing throughout the summer.”
Wheatland has been charged with 13 counts of arson resulting in property damage and one count of arson with disregard for human life.
Additionally, he faces two counts of breaking and entering with intent to commit arson, two counts of breaking and entering with intent, and four counts of mischief under $5,000.
Authorities indicated they believe Wheatland acted independently. The case is not thought to be associated with previously reported extortion events, according to police.
CBC News had previously reported on fires at seven of the locations mentioned by police, beginning with a fire at Commonwealth Kitchen & Bar in July and culminating with a fire at La Roca last week.
Police reported that several of the arson sites experienced multiple attacks.
Nikola Maharajh, co-owner and manager of Commonwealth Kitchen & Bar, revealed that the establishment has been closed for the last five months as they work on rebuilding, a process that is both costly and time-consuming.
“We can’t really do much … it’s just a waiting game with insurance,” he remarked on Wednesday.
Nikola Maharajh, the co-owner of Commonwealth Kitchen & Bar, expressed his relief at hearing about the arrest of a suspect in an arson incident at his business. (Felisha Adam/CBC)
Maharajh was taken aback but ultimately relieved upon receiving a call from the police regarding the arrest.
“One of our concerns was reopening only to experience the same issue again, so knowing that the individual linked to multiple incidents is no longer on the streets certainly provides some peace of mind.”
Jay Kilgour, owner of Fionn MacCool’s on Grant Avenue and vice-chair of the Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association, commented,
“This is a significant relief for the industry … when I secure my restaurant tonight, there’s a bit less anxiety,” he mentioned, noting that this sentiment is shared among the association’s more than 350 members.
Kilgour expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by the Winnipeg Police Service and the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service during the investigation.
“Whether it was a group or an individual behind this, it doesn’t matter. I’m just grateful that this one person has been apprehended and hopefully, we won’t have to deal with such concerns for a long time.”
Ministers ‘scared and frightened’: Fontaine
Between August and mid-September, firefighters responded to four separate fires at Minister Smith’s North End office, as previously reported by the fire department.
Smith and Fontaine — whose West Kildonan office endured window damage and two separate fire incidents — shared with reporters at the legislature on Wednesday that the news of the arrest provided them with a sense of relief.
Manitoba cabinet ministers Bernadette Smith, left, and Nahanni Fontaine respond to questions Wednesday, following the arrest of an alleged serial arsonist. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC)
“The past few months have been quite uncertain,” Fontaine stated. “In some ways, it has left us feeling somewhat scared and frightened at times.”
Fontaine mentioned that her office is entirely gutted, and renovations could take between six to nine months. She and her staff are deliberating whether it is safer to return there or to relocate, she noted.
Smith indicated that her staff have been required to work from home for several months.
“Their safety has been at stake,” she commented. “Their mental health has certainly been affected. We have definitely felt a heightened sense of concern.”
Scorch marks at the back of NDP MLA Bernadette Smith’s constituency office in September. Winnipeg’s fire department previously reported responding to four fires at the office between August and mid-September. (Bartley Kives/CBC)
While authorities stated they could not comment on the motives behind the arsons and break-ins due to the ongoing investigation, Fontaine suggested that “it certainly does seem” as though the incidents at the constituency offices were politically motivated.
“Things have changed” since the COVID-19 pandemic, she added.
“When you are engaging with the community and fulfilling the responsibilities of your elected position, you become more vigilant about ensuring your safety in your environment.
“I believe this has placed all of us on a heightened state of alert.”
Winnipeg police state they’ve resolved a series of arsons that date back to June 2025. Jesse Robert Shawn Wheatland has been charged with 22 offenses in connection with a series of fires impacting restaurants and the constituency offices of two NDP MLAs.
