A 72-year-old man charged with arson with disregard for human life following a fire at 99 McNaughton Avenue West in Chatham last month has been released on bail.
David Anderson, 72, has a lengthy and violent criminal record, but was released on bail on Wednesday afternoon following a hearing in Chatham court.
Anderson's terms of release include a promise to pay $1,000 in bail if he violates his terms of release, that he reside at the Kent Motel in Chatham, and routinely report to the John Howard Society bail supervision program.
He is also banned from possessing weapons, ammunition, explosive devices, and incendiary devices, except for a lighter to light his cigarettes.
Anderson can't return to 99 McNaughton Avenue West except to pick up his belongings while accompanied by a uniformed police officer.
Anderson's case returns to Chatham court on March 25.
The fire caused $250,000 in damage. Fire crews arrived to find heavy smoke and extreme heat on the second floor.
Dozens of occupants were safely evacuated from the social housing complex and given temporary shelter assistance through the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Police officials noted no one was hurt in the fire, and it was contained to a single unit. However, other units suffered smoke and water damage.
The same building was the site of another arson in August 2024 that displaced approximately 100 residents for up to a year.
The two accused in the 2024 arson have had their charges withdrawn due to a lack of evidence.
