Man, 18, and boy, 17, accused of torching 16 vehicles in Markham
A 17-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl also face charges stemming from the 2025 arson investigation
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An 18-year-old man, two 17-year-old boys and a 17-year-old girl face charges stemming from an arson investigation that saw more than a dozen vehicles torched in Markham earlier this year.
York Regional Police say officers responded to a suspected arson in the area of Green Lane and Guardsman Rd. – northeast of Bayview Ave. and John St. – around 5 a.m. on Jan. 27, 2025.
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Man, 18, and boy, 17, accused of torching 16 vehicles in Markham Back to video
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“A total of 16 vehicles were damaged by the fire and an accelerant was used to fuel the flames,” Const. James Dickson said in a statement released Wednesday, adding the damage caused by the fire was over $300,000.
He said investigators later learned that a vehicle believed to be connected to the fire was stolen from the Midland-Lawrence Aves. area prior to the arson.
When the suspects were arrested, he explained one youth was allegedly found with a concealed a weapon.
Search warrants were subsequently executed at two residences – one in Toronto and one in Hamilton – and an electronic device used to commit motor vehicle theft was allegedly recovered.
Among those arrested was Muhammad Hassan Choudhry, 18, of Hamilton.
At the time of the alleged offence, police say Choudhry was subject to conditions of judicial release orders and undertakings for unrelated offences that are now before the courts.
He is charged with arson causing damage to property; possession of incendiary material; theft of a motor vehicle over $5,000; mischief to property over $5,000; two counts of wearing a disguise with intent; possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000; possession of an electronic device for motor vehicle theft; and two counts each of failure to comply with an undertaking and failure to comply with judicial release order.
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A 17-year-old Toronto boy is charged with arson causing damage to property; possession of incendiary material; theft of a motor vehicle over $5,000; and other offences.
A 17-year-old Toronto girl is charged with possession of property obtained by crime.
And a 17-year-old Toronto boy is charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
The three youths can’t be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
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