ATHABASCA — A man who was charged with a recent spate of broken windows is now a suspect in a series of arsons following a high-profile arrest in downtown Athabasca Aug. 31.
Athabasca firefighters and RCMP responded to a fire at an abandoned building on 45th St. just before 8 a.m. last Tuesday — their third call for a structure fire since early Monday morning. Shortly after, RCMP were seen pursuing and arresting Marcel Gambler near Riverfront Park across from the Grand Union Hotel.
Witnesses told police Gambler was seen in the vicinity of 4814-45th St. when the fire started, and has now been charged with arson, said Athabasca RCMP Const. Jay Tessier Sept. 2.
“Right now, we have laid an Information and it was sworn by a judge (charges laid) against Marcel Gambler,” he said.
Gambler was also charged with mischief under $5,000 for damage at the Scotiabank, mischief under $5,000 for damage at the Husky gas station, and resisting arrest for fleeing from officers. He was on the docket in Westlock Provincial Court, and was to appear before the judge from the cells at the Athabasca RCMP Detachment, but he refused to speak to the judge.
“Marcel Gambler was indeed added to the docket yesterday morning (Sept. 1) in Westlock, and that is the call that was placed to Athabasca detachment,” said Tessier. “Marcel is still in custody, and has been remanded to the Edmonton Remand Centre. Sheriffs picked him up today (Sept. 2). I am not sure how long he will be there with these new COVID rules/restrictions coming to light again though.”
A person who noticed smoke and could briefly see the fire on the East Hill on the morning Aug. 31, also watched Athabasca RCMP detain Gambler Tuesday morning. They described seeing an RCMP vehicle pull into traffic "in a hurry" to join another police car that was already stopped at the intersection of 50th Ave. and 50th St. when an officer jumped out of the parked vehicle and pursued a man on foot.
“The suspect tried to zig-zag and ran across the street from (the Union Hotel) to (the) riverfront right in front of my car,” the witness said. “The officer was right on his tail and managed to put him on the ground and get him in hand cuffs without incident.”
In June, Gambler was arrested and charged with four counts of mischief under $5,000, and one count of mischief over $5,000 over broken windows at Canadian Special Risks, Athabasca Value Drug Mart, RX Drug Mart, Equilibrium Cannabis and Glas Floral Studios, based on video and witness statements.
Gambler is also being considered for three other recent fires – the old Home Hardware building Aug. 11, and two fires Aug. 30 — another abandoned building on 48th Ave. and a structure fire on 47th Ave. behind the old Pleasant Valley Lodge, now the Athabasca Reformed Congregation.
“Those investigations are still ongoing, but there had been witnesses who saw Marcel coming from the general direction of those other fires,” Tessier said.
