A man alleged to have set fire to a Vancouver General Hospital outpatient centre in December 2023 has been denied bail in Vancouver Provincial Court.
Roman Merchan, 52, is charged with intentionally or recklessly causing damage by fire or explosion to the Gordon and Leslie Diamond Healthcare Centre Dec. 15, 2023.
The facility was evacuated as hospital and Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services responded to the morning fire, according to a press release from Vancouver Coastal Health.
Crews quickly extinguished a fire in the lobby of the building. There was limited damage from smoke and water but the facility remained closed for several days as repairs were made.
Merchan is also charged with breaking and entering to commit arson at the centre.
In separate incidents, Merchan is charged with an alleged April 11 violation of a probation order that he not possess break-in tools, as well as theft under $5,000 in connection with an April 8 incident at a Burnaby London Drugs.
Judge Gregory Rideout denied Merchan bail at a July 15 court appearance.
The contents of bail hearings are covered by a statutory publication ban.
The Gordon and Leslie Diamond Healthcare Centre houses VGH outpatient care services, including specialty clinics, medical education, physician teaching clinics and research.
