Police investigating suspicious house fire west of Sudbury

SUDBURY -- Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating an Aug. 6 house fire in Markstay-Warren after officers discovered a dog had been shot inside the home and a suspicious man was observed leaving the scene.

Officers from the Nipissing West detachment and Markstay-Warren Fire Department responded to the fire on Park Drive just before 6:30 a.m.

The residence was unoccupied at the time of the fire but a dog was later found deceased inside. An investigation determined the dog had been shot.

A suspicious man was observed leaving the scene in a late model pickup truck towards hwy 17. 

The man is described as approximately 6 feet tall with a thin build and dark complexion.  He was wearing a ball cap and grey hoodie at the time of incident.

The investigation is still in the preliminary stages and will be led members of the Nipissing West OPP Crime Unit and Forensic Identification Services (FIS) in conjunction with the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM). 

Police believe this is an isolated incident and say there is no concern for public safety.

Anyone with information is asked to call the OPP at 1 [phone] or to contact Crime Stoppers should you wish to remain anonymous.