One man has been arrested and charged in connection with an arson at a Centretown apartment building last month, Ottawa police say. There appears to be no link between him and the Freedom Conoy that was ongoing at the time..The incident occurred at an apartment building on Lisgar Street on Feb. 6, which was within the protest zone. Centretown is an Ottawa neighbourhood just steps from Parliament Hill..Two men were captured on security footage the morning of the incident and a second man is still wanted by police..Residents posted on social media they found fire starter bricks in the lobby and the front doors had been forced closed and sealed with tape. A passerby noticed the flames and was able to open the door and put out the fire before anyone was hurt..Police said in a Monday news release that a 21-year-old Ottawa man has been charged with numerous offences, but there is no information indicating the accused was involved in any way with the convoy protest..Anti-COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandate protesters descended on Ottawa for 23 days this winter, as a last-ditch effort to get the federal government to listen to their concerns. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau refused to meet with them, and eventually invoked the federal Emergencies Act which enabled police to physically force demonstrators off Parliament Hill and out of Ottawa..Ottawa residents largely did not support the protests, and regularly complained about the honking, fuel fumes and said protesters were harassing residents. Many believed the arson attempt was caused by members of the truckers’ convoy..Connor Russell McDonald’s charges include arson with disregard for human life, arson causing property damage, mischief to property endangering life, and possession of incendiary materials. He is due in court on April 21.
