Suspect arrested after suspicious fires in Summerland

A 49-year-old man has been arrested in connection to suspicious fires in Summerland.

On Feb. 3, the St. Stephens Church was broken into and a fire was started in the basement, according to an RCMP media release.

The following day, a suspicious fire was started at the exterior stairwell of Summerland Secondary School. A member of the community quickly put out that fire.

Police were able to identify and arrest 49-year-old Penticton resident Gerrid Perret using video contributed surveillance footage and photos.

Perret has been charged with break and enter, mischief and failing to comply with his probation order and was placed into custody, Feb. 5.


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Gabrielle Adams

As a political scientist interested in social justice issues and current events, I hold topics of
politics, inequalities, community news, arts, and culture close to my heart. I find myself
privileged to be reporting local news, because local journalism is where us citizens go to get
access to information and news that directly impact our livelihoods. That is what I love about
it; I believe journalism to be the most important part for our community to be aware,
informed, and tightly bonded by the knowledge of what is happening around us. I am a fierce
believer in journalism being the fourth power of a democracy because, famously, knowledge
is power, and journalism puts that power in the hands of our community so that we can
continue growing, building bonds between each other and continuously keep learning about
ourselves.

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