L&A OPP charge three youths after multiple suspicious fires

After a rash of intentionally lit fires over the past week, the Lennox and Addington (L&A) County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged three youths.

According to a release from the OPP, officers attended four reports of fires:

• Just before 6 a.m. on Monday, July. 3, 2023, officers responded to the Napanee Fairgrounds for reports that a portapotty and garbage can had been set on fire.
• Just after 8:15 a.m. on the same date, officers attended a school on Belleville Road for reports of another suspicious fire that had damaged a newly installed rubber track.
• Just before 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Jul. 4, 2023, officers attended Springside Park Trail after a portapotty was set on fire.
• Just before 11 a.m., on the same day, officers returned to the same location, for another fire inside a bathroom at the location.

OPP said that on Wednesday, Jul. 6, 2023, the three youths responsible for these incidents were located and charged by L&A County OPP. As the result of the investigation, OPP have arrested and charged:

A 17-year-old, of Belleville with:

• Three counts of arson – Damage to property
• Fraud
• Theft over $5,000
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

A 15-year-old, of Greater Napanee with:

• Three counts of arson – Damage to property

A 13-year-old, of Greater Napanee with:

• Three counts of arson – Damage to property
• Fraud
• Theft over $5,000

According to the release, all three accused youths were released on an undertaking and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Greater Napanee at a later date.