WARNING: Some viewers may find the above video disturbing.
Sault police have arrested a suspect after a man was doused with gasoline and lit on fire downtown.
The crime — captured on videos obtained by SooToday — occurred on the morning of Saturday July 29 at the intersection of Bruce Street and Ron Francis Way.
As the videos show, two men were standing outside the IDA at the corner of Bruce and Queen streets shortly before 9 a.m. when one man carrying a red jerry can started spraying gasoline on the other.
When the victim crossed Queen Street, the suspect followed him, continuing to hurl gasoline. As the victim crossed Bruce Street toward the GFL Memorial Gardens, his shirt was lit on fire.
“Officers were dispatched to the location but were unable to locate the suspect or victim,” says a news release issued today by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.
The victim was eventually located on Aug. 2, police say, but he denied sustaining injuries because he “had quickly removed the clothing that was set on fire.”
Two days later, on Aug. 4, the suspect was located near the corner of Queen and Gore streets and placed under arrest.
Jesse McKeachnie, 28, is charged with:
- Arson – Cause Bodily Harm
- Assault Causing Bodily Harm
- Possess Incendiary Material
He was held in custody pending an appearance in Weekend and Statutory Holiday court.
None of the allegations have been tested in court and McKeachnie is considered innocent unless proven guilty.