Victoria police want to speak to victims of an arson at the Capital City Centre Hotel last week who have not yet talked to officers.
VicPD鈥檚 Major Crimes Unit believes there are people they haven鈥檛 yet reached who were injured in the fire that displaced dozens.
All 94 suites of the hotel were evacuated after a man in distress set fire to his suite on Nov. 5. Police initially responded to the Douglas Street hotel after a man in crisis called police. Once there, officers saw a fire inside a suite. They evacuated the building of nearly 100 tenants, while firefighters fought the blaze.
During the evacuation, officers located and apprehended the man who they believe was responsible for starting the fire.
Matthew Brian Petker, 32, has been charged with arson with disregard for human life and arson causing property damage.
Five people, including Petker, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while several others, including officers, were treated for injuries related to smoke inhalation.
Eighty-four units in the building are managed by Our Place Society as supportive housing for people with complex needs, and the other 10 units are rented out as hotel rooms, said Our Place spokesman Grant McKenzie. The fire started in a suite that is not managed by Our Place, he said.
Any victims who have not spoken to police are asked to call VicPD鈥檚 non-emergency line at 250-995-7654. To report anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
- with a file from Katie DeRosa