Jacob Bondy, a man previously jailed for setting fire to his former workplace, has been arrested shortly after appearing on the Sarnia Police Service’s wanted list.
Police announced last week that Bondy, 45, was wanted on charges of theft and mischief. While officials didn’t disclose the details of the charges, several social media users linked the case to a stolen trailer. Authorities warned the public not to approach Bondy and to report any information to police.
In a recent update, police confirmed Bondy has been taken into custody. He was scheduled to appear in bail court last Friday. As of now, the new allegations have not been tested in court.
Bondy is no stranger to legal trouble. In 2020, he was sentenced to 28 months in prison and ordered to pay $172,000 in restitution to Duststop Air Filters Inc., a Petrolia-based factory where he had worked. On July 24, 2020, Bondy deliberately set a fire at the Centre Street facility around 7 p.m., putting both his co-workers and first responders at risk.
Though no one was injured, the fire caused significant damage and turmoil for the business owners. Justice Deborah Austin called the act “deliberate and malicious,” noting there was no known motive behind the blaze.
“This was a profound interference and interruption,” she said during sentencing, highlighting the stress, emotional toll, and recovery costs faced by the factory’s owners.
Bondy has a history of mental health challenges, including diagnoses of kleptomania, ADHD, and impulsivity following a brain injury from a car accident. However, the judge said there was no clear link between his condition and the arson.
First convicted in 2014, Bondy has repeatedly added to his criminal record over the past decade. His most recent arrest suggests his legal troubles are far from over.
