CAS Bombed!

October 26, 2004 permalink

The Windsor Children's Aid Society has been attacked by a suicide bomber. The following article is from ClickOnDetroit. The original includes more pictures and a video clip.

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Police: Crash Intended To Blow Up Children's Center
Windsor Officials Await Driver's Psychological Exam

POSTED: 8:26 AM EDT October 26, 2004, UPDATED: 1:42 PM EDT October 26, 2004

WINDSOR, Ontario -- A pickup truck that crashed into a Windsor, Ontario, children's center and burst into flames Tuesday morning was intended to blow up the building, according to police.

The Ford Ranger pickup truck hit the Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Society building in the 1600 block of Riverside Drive, just before 8 a.m. The driver -- whose name was not released -- is a former employee who was recently fired from the center, Local 4 reported.

Propane tanks inside the truck reportedly fueled the fire.

"At the time it drove into the building, it was on fire. It's my understanding that it's basically an attempt to blow up the building and an attempted arson," said Windsor police Staff Sgt. Gerry Corriveau.

The pickup truck drove across the lawn of the six-story building and crashed through the glass window, according to the station's report. The burned-out vehicle was left about halfway into the building.

The driver -- a man in his 40s -- was taken to Windsor's Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in serious condition. Police said the man will undergo a psychological examination before charges are determined.

Several employees who were inside the building were not injured. No children were inside at the time of the crash, Local 4 reported.

Bill Bevan, a representative of the center, said the employee knew the building is open day and night, but does not believe the man intended to harm any children who are often in the building during the day.

"When you're a business that cares about kids, and you have this start your day, it's a real shock to the whole staff," said Bevan.

Bevan said crisis counselors will be available for employees when the center reopens Wednesday.

The Children's Aid Society is similar to Child Welfare in America, except it receives funding by the Canadian government, but operates as a private company, Local 4 reported.

Addendum: This note comes from the website of radio station CKLW in Windsor:

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Neighbours of a Windsor man are speaking out after he drove a flaming truck into the Children's Aid Society building.

49-year-old Jim Malone crashed into the front of the building, with two 20-pound propane tanks and two 5-gallon gas cans in the truck.

Malone had been running a group home in the South Walkerville area for the C-A-S.

Neighbour Laura Lebute says the job must have pushed him to the brink.

Sources tell AM 800 News, Malone had recently lost an agreement to run a group home and was very upset.

Executive Director Bill Bevan says the man resigned a few months ago.

Malone is in "critical condition" with 2nd degree burns over 20 per cent of his body and has an apparent self-inflicted stab wound.

Damage to the C-A-S building is pegged at more than 1.5-million dollars.