Charges have been laid against two men and a woman after London police linked a vehicle fire, a hit-and-run, and a firearms incident that happened in the city last week.
The bizarre happenings began last Tuesday around 5:20 a.m. when a citizen called 911 to report hearing a loud bang and seeing a vehicle on fire at a hotel in the area of Royce Court and Bessemer Road. Firefighters were extinguishing the blaze when police arrived.
No injuries were reported.
The fire was deemed suspicious and the investigation was turned over to the police street crime unit. After reviewing video surveillance from the area, investigators identified two suspects in the fire.
The following morning around 7:30 a.m., police were called after a man was allegedly threatened with a gun in the area of Hamilton Road and Inkerman Street. The man was threatened by another man who then took off in a vehicle. Shortly after, police were called about a hit-and-run collision in the area of Adelaide and Nelson streets. The description of the vehicle matched the one provided in the firearms incident.
Officers flooded the area and found the suspect vehicle in an empty parking lot in the area of Commissioners Road East and Adelaide Street South. It was determined the vehicle had been stolen earlier the same morning, but had not yet been reported to police.
A witness told police two men and a woman were seen running from the vehicle, with one of the men matching the description of the suspect in the weapon's incident. Two men were arrested a short distance away, while a woman was taken into custody with the assistance of the police canine unit. A search of the woman turned up a BB style handgun.
A 43-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman have been charged with arson causing property damage, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, and failing to comply with a release order.
The pair, along with a 42-year-old man also face a charge of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
The woman is additionally charged with failure to comply with release order.
The 43-year-old is additionally charged with carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order, dangerous operation of a vehicle, operating a vehicle while prohibited, and failure to comply with a release order.
All three have future court dates, police said.