Man charged after 26 gas meters damaged in downtown Regina

A string of damaged gas meters in downtown Regina has resulted in charges against a 39-year-old man.

Now, police are trying to determine if he’s also connected to a fire in a commercial building that broke out early Sunday.

According to a media release, 26 gas meters were damaged Saturday night and Sunday morning. All of the meters since have been repaired.

The first call came in Saturday at about 11 p.m., when Regina Fire and Protective Services called police about a possible gas leak at a business in the 1900 block of Victoria Avenue.

“A caller heard a high pressure release sound and observed a male running from a gas meter,” the media release said. “Police attended the area to provide traffic control while the leak was investigated and repaired.”

Shortly after that call, an employee of a business in the 2100 block of Victoria Avenue called police to report smelling natural gas. A quick investigation found a damaged gas meter in the 2000 block of Cornwall Street.

“Over the next several hours, multiple reports of gas leaks at different meters were received,” the release said. “Police and repair crews attended.”

On Sunday at about 7:40 a.m., police got a call about a man cutting gas lines in the 1800 block of Scarth Street. That call came from a fire inspector who was at the building fire on 12th Avenue.

Police said the fire inspector saw a man cutting a gas line and tried to stop him, but backed off when the suspect threatened him with what police called “a bladed weapon.” It’s unknown what kind of weapon that was.

Another caller told police he also had seen a man cutting gas lines; that caller also reported being threatened with a weapon.

Officers found and arrested the suspect at the corner of 11th Avenue and Hamilton Street at around 7:45 a.m. Sunday. The weapon was found nearby.

“The male is also believed to be responsible for two acts of downtown graffiti that evening,” police said. “At this stage the investigation into the commercial building fire is ongoing.”

Police said the man was charged with 25 counts of mischief under $5,000, three counts of mischief over $5,000, two counts of assault with a weapon, and one count of endangering public lives. He made his first court appearance Monday morning.

Anyone with information about the incidents was asked to call Regina police at 306-777-6500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Anonymous tips also can be made online here.