Man facing multiple charges following arson at Kelowna law firm

KELOWNA – A Kelowna man has been charged after setting fire inside a law firm building in downtown Kelowna Monday morning.

Cody Weninger, 22, has been charged with assault, resisting arrest and arson following the incident at Pihl Law Corporation on Ellis Street.

Weninger entered the building around 10:20 a.m. yesterday, July 13, and set fire to come clothing on the third floor. When a building tenant tried to intervene Weninger assaulted him and then also assaulted an officer trying to extinguish the flames.

Const. Steve Holmes of the Kelowna RCMP says a firefighter was slightly injured during the attack and the man in the law firm who tried to intervene had his clothes ripped and sustained a shoulder injury. Others were treated for smoke inhalation and the effects of the dry chemical extinguisher.

“One of the firefighters had his hand injured as a result of the conflict. One of the people who worked at the law firm, he also got involved in helping deal with this individual who was getting out of hand,” Holmes said.

Weninger has been remanded until July 17.

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