Editor's Note, July 24: This article and its headline have been altered to remove reference to the estimated amount of damage caused by the fire. York Regional Police issued a correction indicating an official dollar estimate for the damage has not been issued, and that it is still under assessment.
Four youth are wanted in connection with the arson that caused extensive damage to a vacant building in Newmarket Saturday night.
York Regional Police received information that suspects were seen pouring an accelerant onto the former Klein Horsman Carpet One building on Davis Drive at Main Street, then lighting it on fire Saturday, July 22 at 7:50 p.m. Two youths were seen running northbound on Main Street, while two others ran eastbound on Davis Drive, police said in a news release.
The four suspects are described as white males between the ages of 15 and 18, according to police.
Saturday's blaze was the second at the building in 13 months, following the initial fire that destroyed the former carpet store in June 2022. A few months ago, the Town of Newmarket issued an order for the land owner to demolish the unsafe building.
The first suspect is 5 feet 7 inches tall and between 130 and 150 lbs. with long shaggy brown hair, who was wearing a black sweatband, black pants, a white undershirt with a black shirt tied around his neck, white socks and black running shoes.
The second suspect is 5 feet 7 inches tall and between 130 and 150 lbs with short brown hair, and was wearing red salmon-coloured shorts, a white shirt, black backpack and white running shoes. He was also said to have been riding a mountain bike.
The third suspect is between 5 feet 7 inches tall and 5 feet 10 inches tall and between 130 and 160 lbs with short blonde hair in a bowl cut hairstyle. He was wearing black pants, a black long-sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and black shoes with white soles.
The fourth suspect is 6 feet tall and between 150 and 160 lbs with short dark brown hair in a mushroom cut hairstyle. He was last seen wearing black-patterned shorts, a black shirt, white socks, a black left shoe, and a black and white right shoe.
Anyone with information about this incident or the suspects, or anyone who witnessed something or has a video recording from the area at the time, such as from a dashcam, cellphone or security system, is urged to contact police as soon as possible.
Information can be provided by calling the York Regional Police at 1-866-876-5423, extension 7142. Anyone wanting to provide information anonymously can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or provide a tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
