(FILE)
WINNIPEG — A man on meth set his shoes on fire and then allegedly stabbed a man in an apartment suite Wednesday evening, according to Winnipeg police.
Emergency crews were called to a fire in the 500 block of McDermot Avenue at around 7:30 p.m. Police also responded after learning one or more people inside the suite may be armed with weapons.
Police say a man visited the unit and was exhibiting paranoid behaviour after consuming methamphetamine. He started a fire by burning his shoes in an open oven. While exiting the suite, he stabbed a male tenant during a brief confrontation. The victim suffered a minor injury and was treated and released from hospital. Police also say a woman was struck by an unknown object during the chaos.
Tenants attempted to extinguish the fire by using available fire extinguishers prior to firefighters arriving.
Police searched the building once the fire was out and didn’t locate any further suspects or weapons.
Alex John Abraham, 48, was treated on scene and then placed under arrest. He has been charged with six counts of arson with disregard for human life, arson causing damage to property and two counts of assault with a weapon.
Abraham remains in custody.
