Man, 24, arrested for arson at Liberal MP Salma Zahid's Scarborough home

Roshvin Crofton, 24, faces arson and other charges after vehicles were set ablaze at MP Salma Zahid's Scarborough driveway on Aug. 27.

Suspect arrested after vehicles torched at Scarborough MP's residence

Toronto Police have arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with a deliberate arson that destroyed vehicles parked outside the Scarborough home of Liberal MP Salma Zahid, according to Toronto Sun Crime.

The incident occurred around 1:20 a.m. on Aug. 27 near Bellamy Rd. N. and Lawrence Ave. E. Police say an unknown suspect approached several vehicles parked in the driveway, poured an accelerant over them, then ignited it — engulfing two vehicles in flames and damaging a third.

Surveillance footage released by police showed the suspect, dressed entirely in black and masked, emptying a large gas can over three vehicles in the driveway and two on an adjacent parking pad. The first vehicle caught fire rapidly, and the blaze spread to the gas can lying on the ground nearby. The suspect picked up the burning can and used it to set a second vehicle alight before fleeing and dropping the flaming container at the end of the driveway beside a third vehicle.

The arsonist left the scene in what investigators described as a black Hyundai sedan.

MP Zahid: "Such attacks will not deter me"

Zahid, who represents Scarborough Centre–Don Valley East, posted a statement on X shortly after police released the footage. "My family and I are all safe," she said. "We are grateful and relieved there was no further damage." Her car and one other vehicle were "destroyed," she noted, though her home was not damaged.

Rather than "speculate on a possible motive," Zahid said she would "await the results of the investigation." She added: "But such attacks are unacceptable and will not deter me from my work serving Scarborough Centre–Don Valley East."

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also responded on X on Aug. 28, stating she was "relieved to hear MP Zahid and her family are safe." Chow called the incident a "cowardly act of violence and intimidation" and said Toronto Police had her full support.

Prime Minister Mark Carney echoed that language in his own Aug. 28 post on X. "It is unacceptable," Carney wrote. "It is not who we are as Canadians." Zahid later thanked Carney publicly: "My family and I deeply appreciate it."

Roshvin Crofton charged with arson and related offences

On Aug. 30, three days after the fire, investigators identified and arrested Roshvin Crofton, 24. He faces charges of arson causing damage to property, mischief over $5,000, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, possession of incendiary material, and failure to comply with a probation order. A bail hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Police have not explained why Crofton was on probation at the time of the alleged arson.

Toronto Sun Crime reports that a man sharing the same name and age was arrested by Toronto Police in October 2023 in an auto theft investigation. He was charged with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and two counts of trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000, alongside two other men. Separately, a man of the same name and age was arrested by York Regional Police in April 2024 in connection with a Markham shooting the previous month in which a man was injured by gunfire. Charges at that time included pointing a firearm, robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, motor vehicle theft, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

The Toronto Sun could not immediately confirm whether the Roshvin Crofton named in those earlier incidents is the same individual now accused of arson, nor could it determine the outcome of the 2023 and 2024 charges.

Second suspect still sought; public asked for tips

Police have released images of Crofton and of the suspect vehicle — a black 2025 Hyundai Sonata, which has since been seized — as they continue to search for a second person believed to have been involved in the arson.

There is so far no indication from police that the incident is being investigated as a hate-motivated arson. Zahid said in a subsequent statement that the motive remains unknown. "As the investigation is ongoing, we still do not have information with regards to a motive for this incident," she wrote on X. "I am sure this will become apparent in time."

Anyone with information about the incident, the identity of the second suspect, or sightings of the suspect vehicle between Aug. 23 and Aug. 27 is asked to contact Toronto Police at 416-808-4300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Source: Toronto Sun Crime