Saanich Police have arrested a 26 year-old man in connection with a series of suspicious fires that were set in Saanich and Oak Bay on March 30th.
There were fires set in the area of Camosun college overnight on Sunday night and early Monday morning, and several other fires were reported in the 3100 block of Service Street near Lansdowne Middle School, in which garbage cans were set ablaze.
According to Saanich Police, the most serious fire caused extensive damage and involved three vehicles stored in a maintenance compound at Lansdowne campus of Camosun College.
Authorities worked quickly to collect evidence and canvassed the neighbourhood for information following the suspicious blazes, which led to the identification of the suspect responsible.
The suspect’s information was passed to neighbouring police departments by Saanich PD, requesting assistance in locating him.
Midday yesterday, an officer with the Victoria Police Department was able to recognize the suspect and arrested him near Centennial Square.
The suspect was then handed over to the Saanich Police Department, where he was held in custody for a tele-bail hearing.
The 26 year-old suspect became well known to police during his time here, though he had just arrived in the Victoria area from Calgary area last week.
“The nature and extent of damage of these deliberate fires was significant. Detectives worked quickly to piece together the events before, during and after the fire to positively identify a suspect,” said Saanich Police in a release.
“We really appreciate the quick actions of the Victoria Police in locating and making the arrest, as well as the public for coming forward with information.”
Saanich Police are still seeking assistance from the public to determine the travels of the suspect prior to the fire.
They ask anyone who has any information or video that may have captured the suspect wearing a red jacket between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on March 30th, in the area surrounding Camosun College at Landsdowne, please contact them at 250-475-4321.
