2 arrested in Kamloops arson investigation, RCMP say

The RCMP provided this image of two people they allege are suspects in two arsons in the B.C. Interior.

Mounties near Kamloops say they have arrested the suspects they believe were responsible for two related arsons in their last week.

The Kamloops and Tk’emlúps Rural RCMP detachments shared a photo earlier this week of the two suspects, asking the public for help locating them.

In an update Thursday, the detachments said the pair had been arrested Wednesday afternoon.

“Both suspects were held in custody at the onset,” police said in their update, adding that the male suspect was scheduled to appear in court later in the day Thursday.

They did not name either of the arrested individuals in their release, nor did they say when or if the female suspect is scheduled to appear in court.

Online court records identify the male suspect as Michael James George Nelson. He has been charged with arson damaging property and breaking and entering to commit an indictable offence. He remains in custody and his next appearance is scheduled for Jan. 20 in Kamloops.

Both of Nelson’s charges stem from offences that allegedly occurred on Jan. 7, the date of the first fire police reported in their initial news release.

That incident occurred at a storage facility on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation on Athabasca Street in the early morning hours, according to Mounties.

The man and woman allegedly cut through a chain-link fence and made off with $4,000 worth of tools before “gasoline was poured onto wood and (it was) set on fire,” according to authorities.

Four days later, Kamloops Fire Rescue was dispatched to a blaze on the 600 block of Kingston Avenue and the RCMP was called in to assist.

In that case, the suspect may have gained access to a secure compound by climbing a fence. Once inside, they allegedly set a pallet and a cardboard box on fire.

“These crimes were prioritized given the risk to the public,” said Supt. Jeff Pelley, in the Thursday release.

“By applying a multi-jurisdictional lens to offenders, and with the help of the public, we were able to utilize our crime reduction unit to quickly locate and take into custody the persons we believe responsible for these reckless acts.”

Mounties asked anyone with further information about the two arsons to contact either Kamloops RCMP or Tk’emlúps Rural RCMP at 250-828-3000 or 250-314-1800, respectively, and cite files 2026-1054 and 621.

Tips can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.