A 23-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a string of arsons in a southwest Edmonton neighbourhood over the past few days.
Police believe the man, whose name has not been released, was responsible for five arsons in the Pleasantview neighbourhood between Sunday and Tuesday morning.
All five fires happened in an alley north of 109 Street and 51 Avenue, between 7:45 a.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. Tuesday. Police have responded to calls of fires set to a small structure, a Jeep, a motorhome and a fence.
READ MORE: Fires deliberately set in Pleasantview; police look for suspect
Officers were proactively patrolling the area Tuesday morning when they came across the fifth fire, which was set to a pile of wood and shed. Police said they noticed a suspicious looking man leaving the area on foot. He was later taken into custody without incident.
Matt Eberle, the owner of the Jeep that was set on fire, said the sound of fire trucks in the area over the past few days had him on edge. Now, he’s feeling a sense of relief.
“I feel a lot safer now that they have caught somebody.”
Wilhelm Weinmann has been charged with five counts of arson to the property of others, disguise with intent and possession of an incendiary material.
The Edmonton Police Service Arson Unit continues to investigate.
Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016. It was updated at 11:32 a.m. Wednesday to include the accused’s name.
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