Man’s attempt at free electricity outside Mission Library gets him arrested

MISSION — Mounties in Mission say they’ve arrested a 34-year-old man who allegedly damaged a municipal utility pole near the Mission Library, plugged in an extension cord, and started a fire near his tent.

Mission RCMP says a member of the public phoned them on Saturday morning, August 17 to report that a man had cut into the base of a utility pole in the parking lot of the Mission Library, plugged in an extension cord and connected it to a tent he had set up nearby. The alert caller was concerned that the man might electrocute himself or start a fire on the municipal property.

Police responded and spoke with the man who said he would disconnect the extension cord. While police were investigating, Mounties determined that the 34-year-old man had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The man exited his tent and subsequently took off running into the nearby bush, but his attempts to evade justice didn’t come to fruition. RCMP members and a police dog tracked the man down and arrested him hiding nearby.

A small fire the man had started near his tent was extinguished, police said.