Update: 41-year-old Ryan Ernest Defazio from St.Stephen, N.B., appeared in Saint John Provincial Court on March 28, and was charged with arson. He was remanded into custody and is scheduled to return to court on April 3.
A 41-year-old man from St. Stephen, N.B., has been arrested following an arson in the community.
On March 27, 2023, at approximately 10:39 p.m., members of the St. Stephen RCMP responded to a report of a boat on fire behind a business on Milltown Boulevard, beside Chocolate Park. A subsequent investigation determined that the fire was intentionally set, and was deemed an arson.
On March 28, a 41-year-old man from St. Stephen was arrested in connection with the incident. He was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in court on April 3.
Members of the St. Stephen Fire Department, New Brunswick Fire Marshal's Office, and the RCMP Forensic Identification Section also attended the scene.
Anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident and witnessed suspicious activity, or who lives in the area and may have surveillance footage from the time of the incident, is asked to contact the St. Stephen RCMP at 506-466-7030. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.
The investigation is ongoing.