On June 29, 2017 just before 8:30AM Saanich Police and Saanich Fire received a report of an arson in the 900 block of Greenridge Cres.
According to a witness the suspect approached a house, where the witness is a caretaker. The caretaker noticed that he didn’t belong at the home and approached the suspect at the side of the house. As the caretaker approached the suspect he noted the suspect was attempting to light the side door of the house on fire.
The suspect left the property and, a few minutes later, the witness noticed smoke coming from a neighbouring property on Saanich Rd. The witness then called 911 requesting the Fire Department and Police.
The Saanich Fire Department attended and discovered that part of an occupied house in the 3900 block of Saanich Rd was on fire. Saanich Fire were able to extinguish the fire and no one inside the home was injured.
Saanich Police attended, searched the area for a suspect and Officers located him a few blocks away. The suspect is a 46 year old greater Victoria man, with no fixed address, who is known to Police.
“This arson not only put the lives of the people inside the home at risk but also the emergency responders who attended the scene” said A/Sgt. Jereme Leslie “This was an extremely dangerous situation and luckily no one was injured”.
The suspect has been arrested for arson to endanger life and will be held in custody for a court appearance on June 30, 2017.
A/Sgt. Jereme Leslie
SPD File 17-14719 refers