Man, 23, charged with arson, stealing electronics at RRC Polytech
Fire was set inside school, more than $5K worth of electronics stolen in February: Winnipeg police
A 23-year-old man has been charged with arson and theft after a fire was set inside a downtown Winnipeg college and thousands of dollars worth of electronic equipment was stolen earlier this year.
Winnipeg police say the arson and theft at Red River College Polytechnic's Princess Street campus happened on Feb. 23. The fire was set midday on a Friday, while staff and students were on campus, according to a Saturday police news release.
The building was evacuated and no one was injured, police say.
The man was not a student at the school, nor has he been connected to the college in any way, RRC Polytech spokesperson Conor Lloyd told CBC News on Saturday.
The fire was set in the basement of the one of the buildings at the college's Roblin Centre, which houses its creative arts, business and IT programs, Lloyd said. It was lit inside a room that stores cameras, lights and other specialized equipment.
"There was a report of a fire in that space and we evacuated the campus as soon as we received that report," said Lloyd.
"Fortunately, everybody was safe."
Classes resumed later that day, he said.
Police arrested the 23-year-old on Thursday near Main Street and Logan Avenue. He's been charged with arson with disregard for human life, arson causing damage to property and theft over $5,000.
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