Man set fire to Hamilton shelter and then armed himself with knives when confronted at nearby mall: police

A Hamilton Police officer is seen in this undated photo. (Twitter/@HamiltonPolice)

A 27-year-old man is facing more than two dozen charges after he allegedly started a fire inside a Hamilton shelter and then armed himself with multiple knives when he was confronted by security guards inside a nearby mall.

Police say that a male suspect was seen loitering inside the lobby of a Salvation Army on York Boulevard on Sunday afternoon.

It is alleged that at some point the suspect proceeded to intentionally start a fire inside the building before leaving on foot.

That fire ultimately caused approximately $150,000 in damage, police say.

A short time later, the same suspect entered the Jackson Square shopping mall and was confronted by security guards regarding an existing trespassing order, police say.

Police say that the suspect refused to comply with a request to leave and armed himself with multiple large knives. It is further alleged that he then produced an imitation firearm and made threats to shoot people around him.

Police say that officers were able to quickly apprehend the male and place him under arrest.

The male, of no-fixed address, is facing 25 criminal charges, including arson and four counts of assault with a weapon.

In a news release issued on Monday, police referred to the matter as a “series of chaotic events.”

“Thankfully, there were no injuries reported to police as a result of these events,” the release notes.