21 Aug 2019

Man charged with arson after two fires in Central Otago

5:13 pm on 21 August 2019

A man has been arrested in connection to two alleged arsons in Central Otago.

A police car at a cordon.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

The fires were on 13 and 14 August in Galloway, near Alexandra. The first was in an unoccupied home and the second in an occupied workers' accommodation, police said.

No-one was hurt in either of the fires, and limited damage was done to the properties, according to police.

A 38-year-old South Canterbury man has been charged with arson, burglary and making false statements to police, and further charges have not been ruled out.

The alleged burglary occurred over a period of months.

Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw said: "The alleged offending has had the Galloway community on edge for months so this arrest has brought a degree of relief to the families in the area."

The man is due to appear in the Alexandra District Court on Thursday.