Duo arrested after woman, two dogs killed in Hamilton fire

UPDATED

Hamilton police have arrested a man and a woman after a woman and two dogs were killed in a fire late Monday.

Emergency crews were called to a multi-unit building on Beach Rd. and Gage Ave. North shortly after 7 p.m.

“First-arriving crews were met with a well involved, working structure fire on the second floor with heavy smoke and heavy flames,” said Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe.

He says firefighters immediately started to search the building after they were told residents were still inside.

A woman was pulled from a room on the second floor and transported to Hamilton General hospital where she was pronounced dead. Hamilton police say the victim has not yet been identified and a post mortem will be conducted Tuesday morning to determine the cause of death.

The investigation was turned over to the Major Crime Unit after police say “it became apparent that the fire may have been deliberately started.”

Detectives arrested a man who lives in the apartment and woman after they returned to the scene around 2:15 a.m. Tuesday. Police say the pair is currently being interviewed by investigators.

This is Dave. He lived in the unit that burned down as well. This is what he knows about the woman who died, his roommate Geoff who was arrested this morning, and the two dogs that perished in the fire. @CHCHNews pic.twitter.com/rGd2h5UpqC

— Sylvie Lendvay (@sylvie_lendvay) July 9, 2019

The Ontario Fire Marshal has been contacted and will be assisting with the investigation. A search warrant has been granted to allow police to process the scene.

Detectives and members of the ACTION Team will be in the area of Beach Rd. and Gage Ave. North Tuesday to canvass for witnesses and surveillance video.

This is the city’s first fire-related death of 2019.

Police initially acted on suspicions that the fire was set deliberately, the tenant had been in a dispute with his landlord. He and a woman had been seen leaving the building shortly before the fire was noticed, and both were arrested when they returned to the scene at about 2 AM.

Both were released without charges after speaking with police. Swoffer says he was renting a room from the tenant, who he identified as Geoff Van Toen.

Police say the apartment that caught fire was being used as a flop house for transients, and three to five people had been living there, including the victim, who had been only recently couch surfing there.

Swoffer said her name was Rebecca, and she spent time in front of Jackson Square playing guitar and singing country music songs, Van Toen’s two dogs, lab crosses, both died in the fire, along with other pets.

Police will have a better idea what, if any, crime was committed after they receive reports from the Fire Marshal Investigator and the coroner; this morning they were also waiting for a warrant to search the apartment.

Police said they had a good idea of the identity of the victim but wouldn’t release her name until they confirmed through a post mortem exam which took place today, no further update from police.

Anyone with information that could help with the investigation is asked to contact Det. Michael McNaughton at 905-546-4123.