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Local man facing charges in connection with Scout Valley arsons

The arrest was made shortly after 8:30 Saturday morning after police recognized the suspect in a parking lot near Scout Valley
Scout Valley arsons 2
The Orillia Fire Department and Orillia OPP are investigating a series of arsons at Scout Valley.
NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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The Orillia detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has arrested and charged a local man with arson following a lengthy investigation into over 25 fires, which were intentionally set, in the Scout Valley area of the City of Orillia, and two in the Grant's Woods area of Severn Township.

On Saturday, May 29, 2021, shortly after 8:30 a.m., OPP members observed the male suspect in the Old Barrie Road parking lot adjacent to Scout Valley. The male was subsequently arrested and transported to the OPP detachment for further investigation. 

The Orillia crime unit, with the assistance of the Emergency Response Team (ERT), Regional Support Team (RST), Aviation, uniform members, the Orillia Fire Department and Severn Fire Services, had overseen the investigation into over 25 small fires, deliberately set to trees and stumps, in the Scout Valley area since the fall of 2020. Two additional fires, in the Grant's Woods area, were also encompassed in the investigation.  

As a result, a 37-year-old male, from Orillia, has been charged with two counts of arson - damage to property, and has been released on a Form 10 Undertaking with a court date of June 13, 2021, at the Ontario Court of Justice, Orillia.

(Orillia OPP Const. Ted Dongelmans told OrilliaMatters the case co-ordinator decided not to name the suspect because “it was not in the best interest for the investigation at this time.”)

The OPP would like to thank those members of the public that assisted by reporting and providing information to our fire services and police. Due to your diligence, no one was injured and no significant damage was caused as a result of any of the reported incidents.

The Orillia OPP is committed to serving our province, including the Townships of Oro-Medonte, Ramara and Severn and the City of Orillia, by protecting its citizens, upholding the law and preserving public safety. If you have any information about crime in our community please contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or report minor occurrences online by clicking here. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit your information online here if you have any information on this crime or any other crime. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display and you will remain anonymous. Being anonymous, you will not testify in court and your information may lead to a cash reward of up to $2,000.

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