On Sunday, May 28, at 8:38 p.m., Niagara Falls officers from the Niagara Regional Police Service responded to a fire call in Niagara Falls.
Officers arrived on scene on Bridge Street near Chrysler Avenue. The front porch on an unoccupied house was found to have been on fire. The fire was extinguished by firefighters from the Niagara Falls Fire Service. Damage to the residence was estimated at $2,000, and no injuries were reported, a police news release says.
The initial investigation determined that a person was seen running from the scene shortly after the fire began. Working with the Niagara Falls Fire Service Fire Prevention Office the fire was believed to be suspicious.
Detectives were assigned to the investigation, working jointly with the Fire Prevention Office. The investigation led to the identification of a female suspect.
On May 31, 2023, Brenda Lee Theal, 47, of Niagara Falls was arrested and charged with arson causing damage to property
Theal was held in custody for a video bail hearing on June 1 at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the investigating officers by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009994.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
