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Attempted murder, arson charges laid in suspicious Batchewana house fire

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NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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BATCHEWANA FIRST NATION - On Sept. 22, 2019 at approximately 7 p.m., members from the Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Batchewana Police Service, Algoma Emergency Services and Sault Ste. Marie Fire responded to a suspicious house fire on Batchewana First Nation.

As a result of the on-going investigation, Joseph Gingras, 42 years old from Batchewana First Nation has been arrested and charged for the following:

  • Attempt to commit murder contrary to section 239(1)(b) of the Criminal Code (CC),
  • Arson - cause bodily harm, contrary to section 433(b) of the CC and,
  • Arson - damage to property, contrary to section 434 of the CC.

The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on Oct. 3, 2019, located at 426 Queen St., Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

The Sault Ste. Marie Crime Unit is continuing the investigation with the assistance of the Ontario Fire Marshall (OFM) under the direction of Detective Inspector Matt Watson of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB).

Any person with information with information on this incident should immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 or their nearest police authority.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or you can click on the "submit a tip" button found here or download the P3 APP where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

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