Hamilton police are investigating after a man set a tent in an encampment on fire.
In a media release on Thursday, police said a black pickup truck drove onto the grassy area at the northwest corner of Wellington Street North and Simcoe Street on Wednesday, shortly after 8 p.m.
That’s near Jackie Washington Rotary Park and Hamilton General Hospital.
A man exited the vehicle, poured a liquid from a yellow jerry can onto a tent, ignited it, and then fled the scene in the truck, according to police.
No one was inside the tent at the time, but the tent and everything inside was destroyed. Police called the incident “disturbing.”
They say the suspect is described as a white man, roughly 30-years-old, with short blonde hair. He was wearing a t-shirt and black jogger pants.
His truck is thought to be a black 1999-2006 GMC Sierra with chrome accents, an extended length cab, window rain covers, black rims, shattered rear window and a chrome rear bumper with significant damage to the driver’s side.
The police service said officers are also trying to find and identify the owner of the tent.
CBC Hamilton has contacted the police service for more details.