Gas leak in St. Catharines home leads to arrest of tenant

A 47-year-old man is facing charges after a gas leak was intentionally caused in a St. Catharines residence being rented by three separate tenants.

Firefighters responded to a home on Haynes Ave. around 5 p.m. Saturday for reports of an unusual smell of natural gas.

Crews discovered the furnace had been “intentionally compromised” and contacted the Niagara Regional Police Service.

The gas leak was contained and capped and the home remained under police guard over night.

On Sunday, police obtained a search warrant for one of the bedrooms in the home and arrested 47-year-old tenant, Joey Larue.

He has been charged with mischief – endangering life.