Brampton babysitter sought by police after house set on fire

Molly Hayes and Dylan C. Robertson, The Star

A Brampton teen is wanted by police after he allegedly lit a fire in a home where he was babysitting his young niece and nephew — and then fled.

Peel Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Joshua Raphael, 19, after a fire was lit in a home where he was babysitting.

It’s not known why 19-year-old Joshua Raphael allegedly set the fire on Wednesday evening, or why he fled, leaving the two young kids behind at the house near Kennedy Rd. N. and Vodden St. E.

“I was shocked someone would do that,” said Const. Thomas Ruttan. When asked his reaction, he said “I’m not sure I can put it into words.”

The teen’s 9-year-old niece was able to quickly extinguish the ground-level fire with a bucket of water, preventing any injury to herself or her 5-year-old brother. There was minimal damage done to the home, Peel Regional Police said.

Police said an accelerant was used to start the fire. A smoke alarm was activated, and a neighbour called 911.

“It’s not a typical call we deal with,” said Const. George Tudos. “Trying to locate him is a priority so we can understand what the motivation was.”

A Canada-wide arrest warrant has been issued for Raphael for arson and mischief endangering life. Police believe he is travelling by foot or using public transit, but is in the Brampton area.

Citizenship minister, Gatineau’s mayor and a number of police officers attended a prayer service at the vandalized Gatineau mosque Friday to show solidarity with the community. (Supplied photo)

Mayor, MP show support for vandalized mosque

Vandalism damage at the Outaouais Islamic Centre Mosque. It was the second vandalism attack at the religious centre this week. Photograph by: BRUNO SCHLUMBERGER, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN

CBC News Posted: Jan 6, 2012 7:25 PM ET Last Updated: Jan 6, 2012 7:16 PM ET
Citizenship minister, Gatineau’s mayor and a number of police officers attended a prayer service at the vandalized Gatineau mosque Friday to show solidarity with the community. (Supplied photo)

Gatineau’s mayor and the immigration minister attended a prayer service Friday at the Gatineau, Que., mosque that was recently the target of vandalism.

On Thursday, workers at the Outaouais Islamic Centre discovered swear words and derogatory references to Arabs and Allah spray-painted in white.

A right-wing fascist group that they claimed had infiltrated the government and German police was targeting them based on their Russian origin, Dorothee Burkhart told the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

L.A. arson suspect Harry Burkhart’s mother Dorothee pleaded to stay in Canada
Postmedia News Jan 5, 2012 – 7:45 PM ET
By Thandi Fletcher

OTTAWA — The mother of a former Vancouver man facing charges in the U.S. for a multimillion-dollar arson spree at one time pleaded to Canadian immigration officials to allow her and her son to stay in this country.

Harry Burkhart, 24, was charged Wednesday with 37 counts of arson for deliberately setting at least 50 fires, torching cars, garages and homes in Los Angeles and reportedly causing about $3 million in damage.

One of Einick Gitelman's favourite quotes: "In order to conquer, what we need is to dare, still to dare, and always to dare." -Georges Jacques Danton

Friends struggle to cope with murder victim’s fiery death

Updated: Wed Nov. 16 2011 7:59:24 PM
ctvmontreal.ca

MONTREAL — Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon for Einick Gitelman, one of the men killed in a horrific double murder last Friday.

Gitelman, 28, was killed in St. Henri Friday when he and another man, 29-year-old Matt Dutch Garner, were murdered when the triplex was set in flames.

In 1987, at the age of 18, Jhatu pleaded guilty to the murder of Abbotsford resident Ranjit Toore. Jhatu beat Toore to death with a baseball bat, doused her body in gasoline and then set her ablaze after being hired to commit the murder by Toore’s husband, Jagraj Toore.

Fugitive killer facing expulsion from Canada arrested in Vancouver
The Canada Border Services Agency said Friday that Satpal Singh Jhatu was arrested by CBSA inland enforcement officers on Oct. 5 in Vancouver following tips from the Canadian public.
By Neal Hall, Vancouver Sun October 7, 2011

Satpal Singh Jhatu was arrested by CBSA inland enforcement officers on Oct. 5 in Vancouver
Photograph by: Handout, Submitted

VANCOUVER — A fugitive who was on the Canada Border Services Agency’s most wanted list has been nabbed in Vancouver.

The CBSA said Friday that Satpal Singh Jhatu was arrested by CBSA inland enforcement officers on Oct. 5 in Vancouver following tips from the Canadian public.