WINNIPEG – An emergency call about the smell of gas quickly escalated Wednesday morning after police discovered an alleged plot to blow up an apartment building.
Emergency crews went to the 22-suite building on Assiniboine Avenue shortly after 11 a.m. to investigate the complaints.
Sources said police found a ruptured gas line and found gasoline poured on the floor of a suite.
The building and neighbouring buildings were quickly evacuated.
“The potential for damage had that ignited, had there been an explosion, the fire could have easily spread to neighbouring suites as well as possibly other buildings quite quickly,” said Winnipeg police Det. Sgt. Natalie Aitken.
A source told CJOB radio that Joel Donald Calder, 49, who lived in the apartment, was scheduled for an eviction hearing on Wednesday.
Calder has a long criminal history, including serving seven years in prison for attempted murder after he sexually assaulted and stabbed a woman.
Calder was arrested near the apartment building at about 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday and is being held in custody.
He’s been charged with arson with disregard for human life, arson causing damage to property, possessing incendiary material and possessing explosives with an intent to cause damage to property.
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