Lawyer can’t find man accused of setting fire to Lethbridge Hotel
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on November 2, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com A Calgary lawyer who represents a man accused of setting fire to the Lethbridge Hotel earlier this year can’t find her client.Robin McIntyre told a judge Wednesday in Lethbridge court of justice that despite repeated attempts she has been unable to contact Michael Randall Big Swan, who is charged with one count of shopbreaking/commit arson.
Big Swan was not in court Wednesday, and McIntyre told Justice Paul Pharo if she’s unable to contact him, she will ask to withdraw as the accused’s lawyer.
The Feb. 24 fire destroyed much of the Lethbridge Hotel on the corner of 5 Street and 2 Avenue South, and a portion of the front façade was later demolished for the safety of the public and workers. Following an investigation and remediation of material because of asbestos contamination, investigators determined the fire had been deliberately set. The site has since been cleared.
Police subsequently identified a suspect, and on April 6 Big Swan was arrested without incident and charged.
Less than a month earlier fire destroyed the historic Bow On Tong building just a block to the east of the hotel. What remained of the building had to be demolished before investigators could safely do their job, and because of the extensive damage the cause of the fire could not be determined.
Police suspected the Bow On Tong fire was also deliberately set and they identified a person of interest, but there was insufficient evidence to lay criminal charges. There isn’t any evidence to suggest the two fires were connected, police said. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
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