Sooke RCMP are looking for three men — possible vigilantes — who reportedly threw Molotov cocktails at a cabin on Robinson Road in the Otter Point area.
Witnesses told police the men were on all-terrain vehicles just after 1 a.m. on April 14 when they drove onto a property with three dwellings and began banging on the door of one cabin while asking where the “drug house” was. They then threw three Molotov cocktails onto the porch, starting a fire.
Molotov cocktails are bottles filled with gasoline or some other flammable material, with a piece of fabric stuffed into the opening for lighting.
The men left on their ATVs, while the occupants of the cabin woke up in time to put the fire out before anyone was injured or much damage was done. An ATV later approached the scene and was spotted by police, but the driver was able to escape.
Police said that over the past several weeks large posters have been put up on Robinson Road warning about drug users and thieves at the cabin where the incident happened. It is too early to link the posters to the Molotov cocktails, police said.
Sooke RCMP Staff Sgt. Jeff McArthur said the attack on the cabin could be a case of vigilantism.
“We’re not sure at this point what the motivation is for this, if it’s motivated by vigilantes or something else,” he said. “We know who it’s targeted against, and there has been some police attention to that one residence.”
He said charges related to throwing Molotov cocktails are much more serious than those allegedly committed by people living in the cabin.
“Arson with disregard for human life, which is what this is, carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.”
He said those involved in the attack have ended up diverting police attention away from whatever might be happening at the cabin, and putting it on themselves.
“Violence and vigilante activity will not be tolerated,” McArthur said. “The Sooke RCMP will actively investigate and charge anyone who is responsible for these crimes.”
He said that while no injuries resulted, it could easily have ended differently.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Sooke RCMP at 250-642-5241 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-TIPS (8477).
