Arson charges laid in Black Walnut café fire
Early-morning fire Sunday at corner of Wortley Road and Craig Street considered suspicious
A 20-year-old man has been charged with arson in connection with a fire that destroyed the Black Walnut café fire in Wortley Village on Sunday, London police say.
The man has been charged with arson and disregard to human life.
The fire levelled the popular Old South café located at the corner of Wortley Road and Craig Street. Fire crews were called to the scene just after 1:30 a.m. ET.
Police described the fire as suspicious.
It left the heritage building badly damaged, and what remained of the structure was pulled down and removed by demolition crews on Monday.
Café owner Ed Etheridge, who was interviewed on London Morning on Tuesday, told host Rebecca Zandbergen that he plans to rebuild the café as soon as possible.
You can listen to that interview here.