Summerland RCMP have arrested a 49-year-old Penticton prolific offender allegedly connected to a series of suspicious fires, including at Summerland Secondary School.

On Feb. 3, the St. Stephens Church in Summerland was broken into and a fire was set in the basement.

This incident was followed by another suspicious fire on Feb. 4, to an exterior doorway at Summerland Secondary. The school fire was reported the next day by a vigilant community member, said police.

Jeremey Piesinger noticed the school鈥檚 burned wall on Sunday when he was out for a walk with his dog. Black burn marks went into the ceiling.

鈥淪ummerland Secondary School looks lucky to be standing,鈥� said Piesinger.

He called the RCMP shortly after to file a report.

Thanks to the community鈥檚 cooperation in providing video surveillance and photographs, RCMP were able to identify and arrest 49-year-old Penticton resident Gerrid Perret.

Perret has been charged with break-and-enter, mischief, and failing to comply with his probation order.

He was remanded into custody on Feb. 5.

Perret was the shirtless man caught on camera doing $300,000 damage after breaking into Naramata helicopter hangar in August 2022. He received 18 months jail for that crime and another crime in Summerland but got out early for time served.

He was sentenced to 10 days in jail in April 2023 for a break-in and resisting arrest in Summerland. He has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2014.

The Summerland RCMP thanks the public for their assistance in the investigation.