A Simms Settlement man faces 21 charges after a spree of arsons and break and enters in Chester.
Twenty nine year old David Douglas Smith was arrested last night while trying to flee a home on Mallard Lane with stolen property.
This was the third call RCMP had responded to in response to arson and break and enters.
The first incident took place on Stanford Lake Rd just after midnight.
The occupants confronted the man who had broken in and chased him off.
Evidence found at the scene indicated the suspect tried to set a fire in the home.
When police arrived, they noticed a detached garage next door was engulfed in flames.
Members forced their way into a nearby home to remove any occupants as the home was covered in burning embers and was at risk of catching fire.
Police found the home unoccupied and noted that it appeared to have been broken into.
Around the same time, a 911 call was received of a man attempting to force his way into a home on Hwy 3, a short distance from the fire scene.
Again, the residents confronted the man and he fled into the woods.
As a result of the investigation, Smith has been charged with 21 offences including Arson, Break and Enter, Assault of Police Officers and resisting arrest.
He’s being held in custody and is scheduled to appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.
The stolen items have been recovered and there were no serious injuries.
Police wish to notify residents that over the last three weeks, RCMP in Lunenburg have responded to more than 20 break and enters in the New Ross/New Russell and Aspotogan Loop areas.
They’re asking citizens to check on seasonal properties and to report anything out of the ordinary to police.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact the Chester RCMP Detachment at 902-275-3583 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
