Police say a man entered a motel lobby in Surrey, threatened staff, and started a fire early Tuesday morning. The Surrey Police Service said officers were called to the Linda Vista Motel on King George Boulevard just after 4:45 a.m. with reports of a fire. “Surrey Fire Services was already on scene battling the blaze in the lobby, which was started after a man entered the motel’s lobby and allegedly threatened staff before lighting the area on fire,” the SPS said, in a statement, noting that the man left before they arrived. Police are appealing to the public in hopes of identifying the arson suspect, who they describe as a 6’ tall man in his 20s with a large build, wearing dark-coloured clothing. Police explained that he may be white, Hispanic, or South Asian, and said he may have left in a vehicle, but they didn’t provide a description of the vehicle. No injuries have been confirmed, and no motel guests were displaced, police added. Police and firefighters are investigating and gathering evidence, but the SPS said a motive for the arson hasn’t been determined. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information has been asked to contact the SPS non-emergency number at 604-599-0502 and quote file number 26-110091.
