Police charge male in connection with arson

Lethbridge Police have charged a 37-year-old male in connection with an arson that resulted in significant damage to a downtown apartment building.

On March 29 at approximately 3 a.m., Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services responded to a report of a structure fire on the second floor of an apartment building along the 600 block of 3 Avenue South. The fire was deemed suspicious and police were subsequently contacted. Following further investigation, police obtained video surveillance of a male accessing the building’s rooftop a short time before the fire was reported. Officers also noted evidence of an attempted break-in to one of the units, however entry was not gained.

Just before 9:30 a.m. police located a male matching the description of the subject and he was arrested without incident. 

No one was injured in the fire, but the apartment building and two businesses below sustained extensive water damage. 

Tommy Lee Day Rider, 37, of Lethbridge, is charged with arson to property (disregard for human life), attempted house breaking and possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl). Following a Judicial Interim Release hearing, Day Rider was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court April 2.

The investigation is ongoing.