No charges in alleged Enderby arson case

NORTH OKANAGAN – Possible charges against a 72-year-old man accused of arson have gone up in smoke.

The man was arrested in Enderby Nov. 27, 2016, after a suspicious fire that destroyed a shed and damaged a truck. No one was hurt.

An officer on patrol noticed the fire behind a residence in the 1600 block of George Street around 8:30 p.m. and called for the Enderby Fire Department.

While the 72-year-old was arrested for arson, the case will not be going to court.

“Crown Counsel did not approve charges in this matter,” Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says in a written statement. “The file is now concluded.”

After police recommend charges, Crown counsel must determine if there is a strong likelihood of conviction and if prosecution is in the public interest. Based on that test, the Crown may lay charges, not lay charges, refer the individual to an alternate program or refer the case back to the investigative agency.

Further details about the incident, including the man’s name, were never released.

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