Abbotsford Police investigating suspicious fire during arrest of barricaded male

ON Monday at 10:32 a.m., Abbotsford Police officers attended a residence in the 31700-block of Southdale Crescent to conduct a follow up with a female victim from a domestic violence investigation. While the officers were inside the residence, they learned that the male suspect from the domestic investigation was inside the home, breaching his court ordered conditions to have no contact with the female and not to attend her residence.

The police officers ensured that the female victim, her 11-year-old child and the basement suite tenants were safely removed from their home while police contained the residence to arrest the male. The male suspect was classified as a barricaded male and the Abbotsford Emergency Response Team and crisis negotiators were called out to assist.

At 1:49 p.m. the Emergency Response Team officers containing the residence observed an exterior window being broken and could see smoke and fire inside the master bedroom. The lone barricaded male then exited the residence and was taken into police custody. The male suffered from smoke inhalation and was transported to hospital for treatment. No other persons were injured.

Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service responded to the partially engulfed residence, which sustained extensive damage. Fire investigators will continue to assist with the investigation.

The 35-year-old male remains in police custody facing breach of an undertaking charges. Abbotsford Police Major Crime detectives, the Forensics Identification Unit and Fire Rescue investigators will continue to probe the cause of the suspicious fire.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225, text APD at 222973 (abbypd) or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.