On August 29, 2025 at 4:50 p.m., 49-year-old Jonathan Roger HEIN presented himself to officers at the Winnipeg Police Headquarters advising he had set two deliberate fires including his place of residence and an office building in the downtown area.
Earlier in the afternoon, at 2:42 p.m., HEIN poured a container of gasoline all over the interior of his residence in the 200 block of Pritchard Avenue before lighting it on fire and causing an explosion. The force of the explosion blew HEIN out of the residence. The fire took hold and quickly spread to a neighbouring residence. The occupants of the neighbouring residence were evacuated and the WFPS were called.
HEIN, who was uninjured as a result of the explosion, fled the area and attended a nearby convenience store to purchase more gasoline. At 4:13 p.m., HEIN made his way to an office building in the 300 block of Donald Street, poured the gasoline inside the lobby area, and proceeded to light it on fire. Numerous employees were forced to flee the fire; however, no injuries were reported.
The Pritchard residence was deemed a total loss and the office building lobby sustained significant damage.
At 4:36 p.m. HEIN walked to police headquarters where he gave himself up to police.
The Major Crimes Unit assumed the investigation.
HEIN is charged with Arson with Disregard for Human Life x 2, and Arson Causing Damage to Property x 2.
HEIN was detained in police custody. At this time, HEIN is not a suspect for any other arsons.