RCMP Spokesperson Gord Molendyk
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
June 02, 2014 - 11:45 AM
SERIAL ARSON SUSPECT STILL ON THE LOOSE
VERNON - Police have made arrests in one of 13 suspected cases of arson in the Vernon area.
Two men, aged 24 and 30, were arrested Friday evening for setting fire to some trash behind AJ’s Pets & Things on 31 Avenue.
RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the suspects are not believed to be responsible for any of the other suspected arsons.
“We have a number of outstanding suspicious fires in our area for sure,” Molendyk says.
RCMP tracked down the suspects with the help of video surveillance from nearby businesses in the area.
Molendyk says the men, who are each facing one count of arson, have had previous dealings with the police. They have been released on conditions and are expected to appear in court June 26.
Police continue to pour resources into the remaining arson cases, enlisting the help of a behavioural analyst from outside the detachment.
“Our officers are diligently trying to get to the bottom of this,” Molendyk says.
Police don’t know if the series of suspected arsons are the work of one person, a group or copycats.
Fire officials have warned home owners and business owners to take precautions to avoid becoming a victim of arson.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014