Arson suspect abandons quest for bail

Cole Christopher Harris, 28, of Fredericton, who’s accused of setting fire to Militia Arms Storehouse in Garrison District last month, set to return to court in May for election, pleas

A Fredericton man on remand after being charged with torching a historic downtown building in March has given up on his bid to be released from custody on conditions - for now.

Cole Christopher Harris, 28, was previously scheduled to go through a bail hearing April 2 but asked for the proceeding to be postponed to Thursday.

Harris faces charges of arson and breach of probation, stemming from a March 12 fire at the Militia Arms Storehouse on Carleton Street that appears to have gutted the structure, which is almost two centuries old.