Man arrested after pouring gasoline on an occupied tent in Cecilia Ravine Park

Officers arrested a man and are seeking additional witnesses after a suspect poured gasoline on an occupied tent in Cecilia Ravine Park and threatened to set it on fire this morning.

At 8:30 am yesterday morning, police were called to Cecilia Ravine Park in the 400-block of Burnside Road for a report that a man had poured gasoline on an occupied tent and threatened to light it on fire while holding a blowtorch.

The tent was occupied by a woman and her dog at the time of the incident.

Officers attended and located the suspect. He was arrested for assault with a weapon, mischief and uttering threats.

The suspect was transported to cells at VicPD where he was held to await court.

This incident is believed to be related to a report earlier this morning, at about 6:30 am, when officers were called to the same area of the park for a report that a man was struck by a bat with spikes on it.

Officers attended to that incident and arrested a man for assault with a weapon, who was transported to cells and released with a court date and conditions.

The victim was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, cleared medically, and then returned to the park where he is believed to have become the suspect in the second incident.

If you have information about this incident and have not spoken to officers, please call the Report Desk and (250) 995-7654, extension 1. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.