Man charged with mischief after suspicious fire in Sooke
Mounties have arrested a man in connection with a suspicious fire in Sooke, B.C.
The RCMP say they arrested a 28-year-old Sooke man on Tuesday. He has been charged with two counts of mischief, according to police.
The arrest follows a string of suspicious fires in the community, with the latest fire discovered at a business in the 6700-block of Sooke Road overnight Sunday.
Mounties canvassed the area and obtained video surveillance of both a suspect and the fire being lit, police said Friday.
The overnight fire followed a large blaze that destroyed a building on Otter Point Road on Oct. 13.
The building, which was the former location of Mulligan's Bar and Grill, later served as a homeless shelter, and was slated for demolition and redevelopment.
The fire on Otter Point Road was considered the fourth suspicious fire in the District of Sooke in the past two months, police said.
All of the fires have been in a similar geographic area within walking distance from the downtown core, but it remains unclear if there is any connection between them.
The suspect was released from custody with several conditions, including a curfew and an order not to possess incendiary devices.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 28.
Police continue to investigate the fires. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sooke RCMP at 250-642-5241 or the Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.