Man charged with assault and arson after barricading himself in an Oshawa home that was set on fire

Durham Regional Police have now laid charges against a 44-year-old Oshawa man in connection to a stabbing incident and arson investigation.

Police responded at 12:20 a.m. Monday to reports that a man was armed and stabbed a victim after an altercation near Simcoe Street North and Elgin Street East. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect then fled the scene of the assault and police said the man had barricaded himself inside his apartment unit at a home in the Simcoe Street North near Adelaide Avenue East area.

Officers said they attempted to negotiate with the suspect but he would not come out of the residence. Police said hours later the suspect fled out of a window and the house was set on fire.

Durham police said he was arrested and taken to hospital with smoke inhalation as a precaution. Police said other residents were already evacuated and there were no other injuries.

Officers have charged the Oshawa man with arson, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace, uttering threats and failure to comply with recognizance.

Anyone with new information about this investigation is asked to call Durham Regional Police’s Central East Division at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2738.