B.C. man accused of setting estranged wife’s house on fire is arrested

FERNIE, B.C. – A 44-year-old man accused of attacking his estranged wife and setting her Langley, B.C., house on fire has been arrested.

RCMP say Andre Richard was apprehended 900 kilometres away near Ernie, B.C., on Thursday, more than 24 hours after he also allegedly struck the woman’s daughter with an unknown weapon as she tried to help her mother.

Cpl. Holly Marks says Richard was taken into custody after police received a report about an erratic and possibly impaired driver.

Charges of attempted murder are expected to be laid by Friday against Richard, who is also accused of breaching a condition that prohibited contact with his estranged wife.

She, along with her daughter and eight-year-old son, managed to escape from their burning house.

The woman is in hospital in stable condition.

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