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Man arrested for arson after 'deliberate' Forest Glade house explosion

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Windsor police say they have arrested a 24-year-old Toronto man after a “deliberate” house explosion in Forest Glade.

Officers were called to a residence in the 10,000 block of Aspen Lane following a report of an active fire shortly after 4 a.m. on Sunday.

Forest glade resident Patrick Paulet says the noise woke him up and he’s never seen or heard anything like it,in the 30 years he’s lived in the neighbourhood.

“I could see over the roofs the fumes, from the explosion, not really the flames, but the sky was red at that time,” said Paulet.

Upon arrival, officers say they discovered the house was completely leveled, consistent with an explosion. Several neighbouring properties also sustained damages. Officers quickly established a perimeter around the scene and advised the public to stay clear of the area.

Windsor police are investigating a house explosion Windsor, Ont. on Sunday, Mar. 19, 2023. (Source: OnLocation/Twitter)

Windsor police are investigating a house explosion Windsor, Ont. on Sunday, Mar. 19, 2023. (Source: OnLocation/Twitter)

Police say a man was found nearby with serious injuries and his clothes smelling of an accelerant.

“I don’t know what the accelerant was or what it may have been or smelled like and I don’t have the information what could have caused this,” Const. Adam Young.

He was transported to the hospital with serious non-life threatening injuries.

The Windsor Police’s Arson Unit was deployed, and through investigation, determined that the explosion was criminal in nature.

As a result of their investigation, a 24-year-old Toronto man faces two counts of arson:

• Arson with disregard for human life

• Arson causing damage to property

This remains an active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Windsor Police Arson Unit at 519-255-6700, ext. 4330. They can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.catchcrooks.com.

Windsor police are investigating a house explosion Windsor, Ont. on Sunday, Mar. 19, 2023. (Source: OnLocation/Twitter)

Windsor police are investigating a house explosion Windsor, Ont. on Sunday, Mar. 19, 2023. (Source: OnLocation/Twitter)

The investigation into a house explosion in Windsor, Ont. continued on Monday, Mar. 20, 2023. (Melanie Borrelli/CTV News Windsor)

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