Charges laid in downtown Lethbridge arson investigation

A 37-year-old man has been charged in connection with an arson investigation. 

Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services responded to the blaze at around 3 a.m. on Saturday, with the fire reported on the second floor of an apartment building on the 600 block of 3 Avenue South. 

READ MORE: Man arrested in connection with alleged arson in downtown Lethbridge 

The fire was deemed suspicious, which led to the involvement of police. The LPS received surveillance footage of a man getting on the building’s roof shortly before the fire started. 

Police say that officers noted evidence of an attempted break-in to one of the units. 

Just before 9:30 a.m. that same day, LPS found a man matching the description of the suspect and he was arrested. 

Tommy Lee Day Rider, 37, of Lethbridge, faces charges of arson to property (disregard for human life), attempted house breaking, and possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl). He remains in police custody and is scheduled for court on Wednesday, April 2. 

Police add no one was hurt in the fire, but the incident caused significant water damage to the apartment building and two businesses below it, with officials estimating damages at $125,000.

The LPS continues to investigate.