The Lethbridge Police Service has charged a 51-year-old man with arson after a fire caused significant damage to two businesses in Lethbridge, Alberta. Harvey John Sweetgrass faces two counts of arson to property following the blaze that broke out early in the morning on March 8, 2026.
An officer on patrol first noticed a heavy smell of smoke around 4:00 a.m. at the back of the 200 block of 3 Avenue South. The fire caused an estimated $700,000 in damages to the buildings that house the Wooden Shoe and Andrew Hilton stores.
Investigators determined that the fire started within an encampment located behind the businesses. During the emergency, police had to evacuate a nearby youth shelter because high winds created a risk that the fire would spread to other buildings.
This arrest marks the second time in less than a week that police have charged someone with arson in the downtown area. On March 6, 2026, a 45-year-old woman was also charged in a separate case involving a downtown fire.
Sweetgrass is currently being held in custody while he waits for a hearing to decide if he will be released before his trial.
