Man arrested after combustible materials found outside Nanaimo restaurant

An off-duty Nanaimo RCMP officer may have prevented a restaurant from being set on fire after spotting a man carrying a knife in a nearby alley.

The incident occurred at approximately 4:40 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4th at a restaurant in the 100 block of Wallace Street.

According to police, the officer was walking to work when they recognized the man and knew he was under court-imposed conditions prohibiting him from possessing weapons.

The officer returned a short time later with additional officers, who found the suspect outside the restaurant and arrested him without incident.

Police said combustible materials had been piled against the exterior of the building. A knife and lighter were also seized at the scene.

“The actions of the officer in recognizing the potential threat and responding immediately likely prevented significant property damage and reduced the risk to public safety,” said Inspector Donovan Tait, officer in charge of the Nanaimo RCMP detachment.

“This incident highlights the value of vigilance and proactive policing. We are grateful that no one was injured and that the matter was brought under control before a fire could be set.”

Later that day, the BC Prosecution Service approved charges against 39-year-old Michael Heywood, including arson, mischief, breach of a release order and breach of a probation order.

Heywood was detained following a bail hearing and remanded in custody until his next appearance in Nanaimo Provincial Court on August 18th.

The arrest came the same morning Nanaimo RCMP responded to a separate suspected arson just blocks away.

At approximately 4:30 a.m., Nanaimo Fire Rescue was called to the A&W restaurant at 60 Victoria Crescent after a fire was reported outside the building.

A 56-year-old man was arrested later that day in connection with that fire.