Man charged in 2009 Whitby church fire
Posted October 17, 2011 12:47 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A 40-year-old man has been charged for allegedly setting fire to a historic church in downtown Whitby in 2009.
A suspicious fire broke out on Dec. 14, 2009, at the All Saints Anglican Church, which was described by locals as “the prettiest building in Whitby” before the 145-year-old structure was gutted and sustained several millions in damages.
Durham Regional police said Sven van Helsdingen of Pickering was charged with six criminal offences, including four arson-related charges, as well as possession of an incendiary material and possession of an incendiary device.
He was arrested without incident on Sunday at his residence in Pickering, and made a court appearance for a bail hearing.
