A Vancouver man has been charged with arson after a New West resident saw someone pouring gasoline on their front porch.
A local resident called the New Westminster Police Department about 7 p.m. on Monday, May 23 when they spotted someone pouring gasoline out of a red jerrycan onto their front porch. The incident happened on Louellen Street.
“When officers arrived on scene, they took a suspect into custody without incident,” said a NWPD press release. “Officers observed that a small fire in the grass near the residence had been started and extinguished.”
According to police, the victim and the suspect are not known to each other, and officers have been unable to determine a motive for the crime.
“We’re thankful that the resident was home during the incident as the outcome could have been far worse,” NWPD spokesperson Sgt. Sanjay Kumar said in a press release. “If you find yourself in a circumstance where you are fearing for your safety and the safety of your property, call 911 and our officers will be there.”
Elsadig Bashir, a 29-year-old Vancouver resident, has been charged with arson and breaching his undertaking. The suspect remains in police custody and is scheduled to appear in court on June 6.
The New Westminster Police Department’s victim assistance unit offered its services to the resident involved in this incident.
