North Vancouver RCMP have arrested a man they say is responsible for at least two arsons Monday night, and possibly a third.
North Vancouver City Fire Department responded to three burning vehicles in the central Lonsdale area between 4:45 p.m. Monday evening and 2 a.m. Tuesday.
Police arrested their suspect on the scene of the last torched vehicle behind the Bank of Montreal at Lonsdale and 15th, just after 2 a.m. While they have been able to link him to the second fire, which was reported around 10:30 p.m. outside an apartment building on 26th Street, police dont know if the suspect is connected with the first fire.
In that incident, firefighters extinguished a fully engulfed vehicle in the parkade of an apartment building at 121 West 21st St., just after 4:45 p.m. One resident of the building was taken to Lions Gate Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation but he has since been released.
Residents were kept from their homes in the building until 7 p.m., but the fire, thankfully, did not affect any of the units, according to Dave Owens, assistant fire chief.
Police are hoping the public can help them trace the movements of the suspect leading up to his arrest. He is described as a white male, 21 years old, standing six feet tall with an average build. He was wearing a black motorcycle style leather jacket over an orange sweater at the time of his arrest.
Were very thankful that nobody was seriously injured in these fires, said Cpl. Doug Trousdell, spokesman for North Vancouver RCMP. Fires of this kind pose a huge risk to the public and to the emergency services personnel, especially in a densely populated area.
The man remains in police custody pending a court appearnce. Police are looking to charge him with arson and mischief.
Anyone who saw someone matching the suspects description is asked to contact the North Vancouver RCMP economic crime and arson unit at 604-985-1311.
