A Medicine Hat man has been charged with arson in connection to a suspicious fire.
On September 22, 2023, at 5:06 AM members of the Medicine Hat Police Service and Medicine Hat Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire in the 1300 block of 7th Avenue NE, Medicine Hat. When crews arrived on scene a travel trailer and detached garage were fully engulfed in flames. The fire was quickly brought under control and extinguished, however not before the garage structure, travel trailer and contents were destroyed. The total value of the damage is estimated at $150,000.
The matter was quickly determined to be an arson and the ensuing investigation led to the arrest of a Joseph Haynes, 51, of Medicine Hat. Haynes has been charged with one count of arson and breaching the conditions of a prior undertaking. He was held for a Judicial Interim Release hearing and released pending his next court appearance which is scheduled for October 17, 2023.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone who was a witness to, or has additional surveillance footage of this incident, is asked to contact the Medicine Hat Police Service at 403-529-8481.
Media Contact
S/Sgt. Jason Graham
Criminal Investigation Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421