Hamilton man charged in connection with January arson in Markham

On Monday, January 27, 2025 at approximately 5 a.m., police responded to the area of Green Lane and Guardsman Road for reports of an arson. A total of sixteen vehicles were damaged by the fire and an accelerant was used to fuel the flames. The total damage caused by the fire was over $300,000. Investigators learned that a suspect vehicle related to the fire was stolen from the area of Midland Avenue and Lawrence Avenue East, in the City of Toronto, prior to the arson.

As a result of public assistance and in cooperation with the Toronto Police Service, two suspects were identified and charged in relation to the arson and two other suspects were charged for related offences. During the arrest of the suspects, a youth was found concealing a weapon. Two search warrants were executed at residences in the City of Toronto and the City of Hamilton and an electronic device used to commit motor vehicle theft was recovered.

Charged are:

Muhammad Hassan Choudhry of Hamilton with:

• Arson Causing Damage to Property
• Possession of Incendiary Material
• Theft Motor Vehicle Over $5,000
• Mischief to Property Over $5,000
• Disguise with Intent x2
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
• Possess Electronic Device for Motor Vehicle Theft
• Breach of Probation 
• Fail to Comply with Undertaking x2 
• Fail to Comply with Judicial Release Order x2 

A 17-year-old male from Toronto with:

• Arson Causing Damage to Property
• Possession of Incendiary Material
• Theft Motor Vehicle Over $5,000
• Mischief to Property Over $5,000
• Disguise with Intent x2
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
• Possess Electronic Device for Motor Vehicle Theft

A 17-year-old female from Toronto with:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

|A 17-year-old male from Toronto with:

• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose

At the time of the offence, Choudry was on probation, as well as conditions of judicial release orders and undertakings for unrelated offences.

Anyone with information is asked to call the #2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7241, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.

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