Vaughan man charged in parking garage Porsche fire at Newmarket hospital

Yorkregion.com
July 24, 2023
Kim Zarzour

Thanks to tips from the community, York Regional Police made an arrest in a parking garage fire incident at a Newmarket hospital.

Santiago Gonzalez Y Ramirez of Vaughan was arrested July 22 and charged with arson, mischief under $5,000 and two charges of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon.

Around 9:45 p.m. July 20, YRP officers responded to a fire in the Southlake Regional Health Centre parking garage, on the southeast corner of Davis Drive and Prospect Street in Newmarket.

Officers found a Porsche engulfed in flames on the fourth floor of the parking garage.

Video surveillance showed the 28-year-old suspect loitering in the area before approaching the vehicle and appearing to pour accelerant on the vehicle, which caught fire.

The suspect was last seen leaving the parking garage on foot and heading southbound on Prospect Street.

Through tips received from the community officers identified Gonzalez Y Ramirez as the suspect, issuing a warrant for his arrest. As he was being arrested, Gonzalez Y Ramirez allegedly poured accelerant on himself and the two arresting officers while holding a lighter but was safely taken into custody before it could be lit.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact YRP #1 district Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, x7142.

Or, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.