EDMONTON, Alta. — A man accused of setting fire to more than a dozen vehicles along a busy street in Old Strathcona Friday made a brief appearance in court Monday.
Twenty-two-year-old Malice Sutton is facing 19 charges in connection with the incident. Videos posted to social media Friday showed a man in black clothing walking along Calgary Trail carrying a red jerry can, setting fire to vehicles. The man was eventually chased into a nearby Starbucks by two citizens, where they detained him until police could arrive.
Sutton, who is in custody, made a brief appearance via CCTV in Edmonton’s mental health court Monday. His case was put over until April 29 so he can get a lawyer.
He faces charges including 11 counts of arson to property, three counts of arson to property with disregard for human life, four counts of possessing incendiary material and one count of assault with a weapon.
Two of the incendiary material charges relate to glass bottles with cloth wicks inserted, according to court records.
Police responded to the scene at around 8:40 p.m. Friday, after receiving reports that a man was walking around “pouring fuel on vehicles and setting them on fire,” a news release said. Police said a total of 13 vehicles were damaged.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
