Arson suspected in fire at alleged Prince George crack house

A suspicious fire has destroyed an alleged drug house in Prince George where two men were recently arrested in the rape, torture and confining of a young woman.

The late-night fire gutted the trailer home at 7766 Emerald Drive. Fifteen firefighters fought the blaze overnight Tuesday, but no one was inside at the time.

Deputy fire chief John Lane said the fire was suspicious and the case has been turned over to the RCMP.

"The fire on Emerald Dr. was determined to be incendiary, so it was arson, by persons unknown at this time," said Lane.

Neighbour John Harding said police were right when they called the place a crack shack, and many neighbours cheered as it burned.

"All the neighbourhood around here is very happy that it's gone. I'm very happy that it's gone," said Harding on Wednesday.

The trailer home was the site of recent high-profile drug bust. It was raided after police pulled over a beaten and distraught 18-year-old woman during a routine traffic stop.

She told police she had been held in the trailer home against her will for several days and sexually assaulted.

Police raided the trailer on Aug. 10,arrested five men andseized two ounces of crack cocaine, scales and firearm ammunition.

Two men were charged with unlawful confinement, sexual assault, assault,possession of a firearm and possession of crack.

One of the men, Brent Sterland, 59, who had the trailer's phone number listed under his name,was released on $2,000 bail just hours after the trailer was destroyed.

The second man, Joel Milton Clark, 22, was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.