A wave of fear gripped Winnipeg for months as a series of deliberate fires and break-ins targeted businesses and political figures, leaving a community on edge.
Jesse Robert Shawn Wheatland, 35, now faces 22 charges, accused of orchestrating the damage at eleven locations since June, including restaurants, a school administration building, and addiction treatment facilities.
The attacks weren’t random; they specifically included the constituency offices of two Manitoba cabinet ministers, Nahanni Fontaine and Bernadette Smith, raising concerns about a potential political motive.
Fontaine’s office, reduced to ashes in September, remains closed indefinitely, forcing her to consider a more secure, elevated location for a space meant to be accessible to the public.
Smith’s office endured four separate fire attempts over the summer, fueling anxieties among local business owners who feared becoming the next target.
“They’ve reached out to us, feeling like, ‘Is my business going to be targeted next? Is my restaurant going to go up in flames?’” Smith recounted, echoing the widespread worry.
Investigators, led by Insp. Jen McKinnon, found relief in the arrest, acknowledging the emotional toll the prolonged investigation had taken on the team.
Crucial security camera footage from affected businesses proved instrumental in connecting the crimes and ultimately identifying Wheatland, who was previously unknown to police.
While a motive remains unclear, Fontaine suspects a political element, given the targeted nature of the attacks on her and Smith’s offices.
Online activity linked to a Jesse Wheatland revealed strong opposition to a proposed supervised consumption site in Smith’s constituency, a project she championed, and which was ultimately relocated due to public outcry.
The Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association expressed hope for a return to normalcy, eager to support businesses recovering from the ordeal and alleviate the lingering anxiety.
The arrest brings a measure of closure to a frightening chapter for Winnipeg, but the community is left to grapple with the unsettling questions surrounding the attacks and their potential motivations.
