Kelowna man seeks bail on August arson charge

A 24-year-old Kelowna man who was restrained by neighbours following a suspicious fire in Rutland is looking to be released from custody.

Brendan Gerelle has been charged with arson in relation to an inhabited property.

2:30 Arrest made in connection with suspicious early-morning fire in Kelowna

Just after midnight on Aug. 30, RCMP and the Kelowna Fire Department were called to a carriage-house fire in the 800 block of Galbraith Place.

“Prior to the arrival of police, local residents stopped and restrained the man they believed to be responsible for the fire, effecting a citizens arrest,” Cpl. Meghan Foster said after the fire.

The Kelowna RCMP General Investigation Section along with the Kelowna Fire Department gathered evidence that led to the arson charge, according to Cpl. Foster.

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Residents living at the Glabraith Place home were on edge after they had been victims of three suspicious car fires earlier in the summer.

A neighbour’s vehicle was reportedly torched Aug. 24.

Gerelle has not been charged with any other crimes.

An online search showed Gerelle graduated from UBC Okanagan with a degree in physics in 2018.

The Kelowna man’s bail hearing was adjourned on Monday and set over for two weeks.