The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are asking for the public’s assistance with an arson investigation in Hawkesbury.
On Monday, August 4, shortly before 11:30 p.m., Hawkesbury OPP officers responded to an arson being committed at a pizza restaurant on James Street. They arrived quickly and saw smoke and flames inside the business and called in the Hawkesbury Fire Department.
There have been a series of pizza shops at the location over the years. Most recently, the business operating there was called Mike Pizza.
According to the OPP, witnesses reported seeing two men start the fire and then walk away from the scene.
The males were described only as tall and thin. Both were wearing black sweaters, and one was wearing a medical-style mask. Police provided a of the possible suspect, taken from security camera footage at a nearby business.
It’s believed that two other men, driving a white Chevrolet Malibu may also have ben involved.
If you have any information on the incident or those involved, or have any relevant doorbell, dashcam or surveillance video, contact the Hawkesbury OPP and refer to incident E251047778. If you have information but want to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
Hawkesbury Fire Department Captain Patrick Mayer said the Grenville Fire Department also assisted at the pizza shop fire. He said there were no injuries associated with the fire.
The business is now closed with boards on the doors and windows.
The Mike Pizza fire was the third fire at a pizza shop in downtown Hawkesbury in less than six weeks. On June 30, there were fires at both the Pizza Pizza on Main Street, and at the Salvatore pizza at the corner of John and Main streets. Police have also been looking for suspects associated with those fires.