Man accused in Walmart blaze previously set other fires

WINNIPEG — A judge urged Ronald Marmito Amigo to address his addiction to methamphetamine as she sentenced him last year for lighting a fire in a storage area at Garden City Shopping Centre and another in a nearby dumpster while high.

“Where you are right now is a direct result of your addictions, everything that is going on in your life is a direct result of your addictions, and until you see that, accept that and deal with your addictions, things aren’t going to get better in your life,” provincial court Judge Patrice Miniely told Amigo last July.

She gave Amigo 27 days in jail and 18 months of supervised probation for arson to property and a court order breach over the Jan. 29, 2025 incidents.

The 47-year-old is now accused of setting the bedding section of the St. Vital Centre Walmart ablaze on Monday, resulting in more than $10 million in damage and forcing the evacuation of 150-200 customers and staff.

Court heard last July that Amigo had lived a positive life for more than 40 years, working in restaurant management and sales and raising three children, until he began using meth in 2021.

“I think that’s really the issue that brings Mr. Amigo before the court and has caused him significant difficulty in his life,” said his defence lawyer, John Rutherford, at the hearing.

“It’s a very sad case, a situation where he’s in his mid-40s, up until about (2024) he doesn’t have a criminal record, and now he’s reoffending in this manner.”

After his arrest last January, Amigo told police he set the fires “for attention,” Crown prosecutor Julie Negrea told court. He had meth on him when he was arrested.

Amigo’s defence lawyer, the prosecutor and judge all agreed he needed rehabilitation.

He was ordered to participate in programming, including residential addictions treatment.

Among the conditions of his probation was that he could not possess any incendiary materials, including lighters, in public.

The St. Vital Walmart remains closed.

Walmart Canada spokeswoman Felicia Fefer said in an email the store is being cleaned and repaired. She did not offer a timeline on when the repairs are expected to be complete.

“We’re working to reopen as quickly as possible and will do so only when we are confident the store is safe and ready to welcome customers back,” said Fefer, who did not elaborate on the extent of the damage.

She said the company is supporting its staff while the St. Vital Centre location is repaired.

Amigo was arrested on Furby Street on Thursday. The Winnipeg Police Service said officers found methamphetamine and a lighter on him during his arrest.

Amigo has been charged with arson with disregard for human life, arson causing property damage, possession of incendiary material for the lighter, theft under $5,000 and possession of meth, as well as two counts of failing to comply with probation, for the Walmart incident.

» Winnipeg Free Press